1. Febrile neutropenia in chemotherapy treated small-cell lung cancer patientsRenata Režonja, Iztok Grabnar, Tomaž Vovk, Aleš Mrhar, Viljem Kovač, Tanja Čufer, 2015, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Chemotherapy with platinum agent and etoposide for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is supposed to be associated with intermediate risk (10-20%) of febrileneutropenia. Primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colonystimulating factors (G-CSFs) is not routinely recommended by the treatment guidelines. However, in clinical practice febrile neutropenia is often observed with standard etoposide/platinum regimen. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the frequency of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia in advanced SCLC patients in the first cycle of standard chemotherapy. Furthermore, we explored the association between severe neutropenia and etoposide peak plasma levels inthe same patients. The case series based analysis of 17 patients with advanced SCLC treated with standard platinum/etoposide chemotherapy, already included in the pharmacokinetics study with etoposide, was performed. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia, observed after the first cycle are reported. The neutrophil counts were determined on day one of the second cycle unless symptoms potentially related to neutropenia occurred. Adverse events were classified according to Common Toxicity Criteria 4.0. Additionally, association between severe neutropenia and etoposide peak plasma concentrations, which were measured in the scope of pharmacokinetic study, was explored. Two out of 17 patients received primary GCS-F prophylaxis. In 15 patient who did not receive primary prophylaxis the rates of both grade 3/4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia were high (8/15 (53.3%) and 2/15 (13.3%), respectively), already in the first cycle of chemotherapy. One patient died due to febrile neutropenia related pneumonia. Neutropenic events are assumed to be related to increased etoposide plasma concentrations after a standard etoposide and cisplatin dose. While the mean etoposide peak plasma concentration in the first cycle of chemotherapy was 17.6 mg/l, the highest levels of 27.07 and 27.49 mg/l were determined in two patients with febrile neutropenia. Our study indicates that there is a need to reduce the risk of neutropenic events in chemotherapy treated advanced SCLC, starting in the first cycle. Mandatory use of primary G-CSF prophylaxis might be considered. Alternatively, use of improved risk models for identification of patients with increased risk for neutropenia and individualization of primary prophylaxis based on not only clinical characteristics but also on etoposide plasma concentration measurement, could be a new, promising options that deserves further evaluation. Ključne besede: small cell lung cancer, platinum-etoposide chemotherapy, etoposide, febrile neutropenia, plasma drug concentration Objavljeno v DiRROS: 22.04.2024; Ogledov: 46; Prenosov: 32 Celotno besedilo (568,43 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
2. Effect of post-treated low-temperature plasma nitriding on the wear and corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel manufactured by laser powder-bed fusionMatjaž Godec, Črtomir Donik, Aleksandra Kocijan, Bojan Podgornik, Danijela Anica Skobir Balantič, 2020, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: austenitic stainless steel, powder bed fusion, low-temperature plasma nitriding, wear and corrosion behaviour, dislocation cell structure Objavljeno v DiRROS: 25.03.2024; Ogledov: 106; Prenosov: 64 Celotno besedilo (3,28 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Use of plasma nitriding to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of 18Ni-300 maraging steel manufactured by selective laser meltingMatjaž Godec, Bojan Podgornik, Aleksandra Kocijan, Črtomir Donik, Danijela Anica Skobir Balantič, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: selective laser melting, 18Ni-300 maraging steel, heat treatment, plasma nitriding, retained and reverted austenite, wear and corrosion behaviour Objavljeno v DiRROS: 25.03.2024; Ogledov: 114; Prenosov: 60 Celotno besedilo (3,37 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
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5. Improving the surface properties of additive-manufactured Inconel 625 by plasma nitridingDanijela Anica Skobir Balantič, Črtomir Donik, Bojan Podgornik, Aleksandra Kocijan, Matjaž Godec, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: As a surface-hardening technique, plasma nitriding is a common procedure for improving the properties of
conventional Ni-based alloys. The diffusion of nitrogen hardens a layer on the surface of the alloy, leading to
better wear resistance and a higher coefficient of friction, as well as a higher surface hardness. This study reports
the effect of plasma nitriding on additive-manufactured (AM) Inconel 625 (IN625) compared to its conventional
manufactured and nitrided counterparts. The samples produced with the laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) process
were subsequently plasma nitrided in the as-built condition, stress-relief annealed at 870 °C and solution treated
at 1050 °C. The plasma nitridings were carried out at 430 °C and 500 °C for 15 h. The growth kinetics of the
nitride layer of the AM samples depends on the prior heat treatments and is faster in the as-built state due to the
specific cellular structure. The lower nitriding temperature leads to the formation of expanded austenite in the
nitride layer, while at the higher nitriding temperature, the expanded austenite decomposes and CrN precipitation
occurs. The XRD and SEM analyses confirmed the presence of two layers: the surface layer and the
diffusion layer beneath. The lower nitriding temperature caused the formation of expanded austenite or a
combination of expanded austenite and CrN. The higher nitriding temperature led to the decomposition of the
expanded austenite and to the formation/precipitation of CrN. The higher nitriding temperature also decreased
the corrosion resistance slightly due to the increased number of precipitated Cr-nitrides. On the other hand, the
wear resistance was significantly improved after plasma nitriding and was much less influenced by the nitriding
temperature. Ključne besede: additive manufacturing, powder-bed fusion, plasma nitriding, expanded austenite, wear and corrosion resistance, Ni-based alloy Objavljeno v DiRROS: 31.01.2024; Ogledov: 187; Prenosov: 79 Celotno besedilo (7,98 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
6. Autologous platelet and extracellular vesicle-rich plasma as therapeutic fluid : a reviewKaja Troha, Domen Vozel, Matevž Arko, Apolonija Bedina Zavec, Drago Dolinar, Matej Hočevar, Zala Jan, Matic Kisovec, Boštjan Kocjančič, Ljubiša Pađen, Manca Pajnič, Samo Penič, Anna Romolo, Neža Repar, Vesna Spasovski, Nejc Steiner, Vid Šuštar, Aleš Iglič, Damjana Drobne, Ksenija Kogej, Saba Battelino, Veronika Kralj-Iglič, 2023, pregledni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: platelet-rich plasma, platelets, centrifugation, extracellular vesicles, small cellular particles, wound healing, regeneration, fresh-frozen plasma, intercellular signaling peptides and proteins Objavljeno v DiRROS: 26.01.2024; Ogledov: 235; Prenosov: 121 Celotno besedilo (2,37 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. Advanced method for efficient functionalization of polymers by intermediate free-radical formation with vacuum-ultraviolet radiation and producing superhydrophilic surfacesAlenka Vesel, Rok Zaplotnik, Miran Mozetič, Nina Recek, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: An efficient approach for tailoring surface properties of polymers is presented, which enables rapid modification leading to superhydrophilic properties. The approach is based on vacuum-ultraviolet radiation (VUV) pretreatment of the surface to create reactive dangling bonds. This step is followed by a second treatment using neutral oxygen atoms that react with the dangling bonds and form functional groups. The beneficial effect of VUV pretreatment for enhanced functionalization was clearly demonstrated by comparing VUV pretreatment in plasmas created in different gases, i.e., hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, which differ in the intensity of VUV/UV radiation. The emission intensity of VUV radiation for all gases was measured by vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy. It was shown that VUV has a strong influence on the treatment time and final surface wettability. A superhydrophilic surface was obtained only if using VUV pretreatment. Furthermore, the treatment time was significantly reduced to only a second of treatment. These findings show that such an approach may be used to enhance the surface reaction efficiency for further grafting of chemical groups. Ključne besede: plasma treatment, vacuum-ultraviolet radiation treatment, surface functionalization, polymer polyvinyl chloride, vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopy, vacuum-ultraviolet photons Objavljeno v DiRROS: 06.06.2023; Ogledov: 382; Prenosov: 193 Celotno besedilo (4,42 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
8. Deposition of chitosan on plasma-treated polymers : a reviewAlenka Vesel, 2023, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Materials for biomedical applications often need to be coated to enhance their performance, such as their biocompatibility, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, or to assist the regeneration process and influence cell adhesion. Among naturally available substances, chitosan meets the above criteria. Most synthetic polymer materials do not enable the immobilization of the chitosan film. Therefore, their surface should be altered to ensure the interaction between the surface functional groups and the amino or hydroxyl groups in the chitosan chain. Plasma treatment can provide an effective solution to this problem. This work aims to review plasma methods for surface modification of polymers for improved chitosan immobilization. The obtained surface finish is explained in view of the different mechanisms involved in treating polymers with reactive plasma species. The reviewed literature showed that researchers usually use two different approaches: direct immobilization of chitosan on the plasma-treated surface or indirect immobilization by additional chemistry and coupling agents, which are also reviewed. Although plasma treatment leads to remarkably improved surface wettability, this was not the case for chitosan-coated samples, where a wide range of wettability was reported ranging from almost superhydrophilic to hydrophobic, which may have a negative effect on the formation of chitosan-based hydrogels. Ključne besede: polymer surfaces, chitosan, coatings, plasma-surface modification, adhesion Objavljeno v DiRROS: 24.02.2023; Ogledov: 404; Prenosov: 218 Celotno besedilo (6,88 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
9. A review of recombination coefficients of neutral oxygen atoms for various materialsDomen Paul, Miran Mozetič, Rok Zaplotnik, Gregor Primc, Denis Đonlagić, Alenka Vesel, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Relevant data on heterogeneous surface recombination of neutral oxygen atoms available in the scientific literature are reviewed and discussed for various materials. The coefficients are determined by placing the samples either in non-equilibrium oxygen plasma or its afterglow. The experimental methods used to determine the coefficients are examined and categorized into calorimetry, actinometry, NO titration, laser-induced fluorescence, and various other methods and their combinations. Some numerical models for recombination coefficient determination are also examined. Correlations are drawn between the experimental parameters and the reported coefficients. Different materials are examined and categorized according to reported recombination coefficients into catalytic, semi-catalytic, and inert materials. Measurements from the literature of the recombination coefficients for some materials are compiled and compared, along with the possible system pressure and material surface temperature dependence of the materials’ recombination coefficient. A large scattering of results reported by different authors is discussed, and possible explanations are provided. Ključne besede: heterogeneous surface recombination, recombination coefficient, surface catalicity, catalytic efficiency, atom loss coefficient, oxygen, neutral atoms, plasma Objavljeno v DiRROS: 22.02.2023; Ogledov: 481; Prenosov: 229 Celotno besedilo (3,59 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. A method for the immobilization of chitosan onto urinary cathetersAlenka Vesel, Nina Recek, Rok Zaplotnik, Albert Kurinčič, Katja Kuzmič, Lidija Fras Zemljič, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: A method for the immobilization of an antibacterial chitosan coating to polymeric urinary medical catheters is presented. The method comprises a two-step plasma-treatment procedure, followed by the deposition of chitosan from the water solution. In the first plasma step, the urinary catheter is treated with vacuum-ultraviolet radiation to break bonds in the polymer surface film and create dangling bonds, which are occupied by hydrogen atoms. In the second plasma step, polymeric catheters are treated with atomic oxygen to form oxygen-containing surface functional groups acting as binding sites for chitosan. The presence of oxygen functional groups also causes a transformation of the hydrophobic polymer surface to hydrophilic, thus enabling uniform wetting and improved adsorption of the chitosan coating. The wettability was measured by the sessile-drop method, while the surface composition and structure were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Non-treated samples did not exhibit successful chitosan immobilization. The effect of plasma treatment on immobilization was explained by noncovalent interactions such as electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Ključne besede: polymer, chitosan immobilization, adhesion, plasma-surface modification, biopolymers Objavljeno v DiRROS: 05.12.2022; Ogledov: 477; Prenosov: 291 Celotno besedilo (6,47 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |