Search the repository

A+ | A- | | SLO | ENG

Abstract: Background. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and remains an important cause of cancer death worldwide. Platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) for NSCLC can modify outcome while the risk of cardiotoxicity remains poorly researched. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and severity of cardiac injury during PBC in patients with NSCLC and to identify patients at risk. Methods. This was a single-centre, prospective, observational study of patients with early and advanced stage NSCLC referred for PBC. In addition to standard care, patients were examined and evaluated for cardiotoxicity before the first dose (visit 1), at the last dose (visit 2) and 6 months after the last dose of PBC (visit 3). Cardiotoxicity (at visit 2 and 3) was defined as increase in the ultrasensitive troponin T, N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide or decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results. Overall, 41 patients (mean age 61 +/- 9; 54% men; 68% advanced lung cancer) were included. The median number of PBC cycles was 4. During the study period, there were no incidents of heart failure, and 3 deaths caused by tumour progression were recorded. The mean values of biomarkers and LVEF did not change significantly (p > 0.20). However, 10 (25%) had cardiotoxicity which was independently associated with a history of ischemic heart disease (p = 0.026). Conclusions. In NSCLC, cardiac assessment and lifestyle modifications may be pursued in patients with a history of cardiac disease and in patients with longer life expectancy.
Published in DiRROS: 10.05.2024; Views: 72; Downloads: 39
Full text (437,07 KB)
This document has many files! More...

Abstract: Background. Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed in an advanced stage and the present clinical and diagnostic molecular markers for early OC screening are insufficient. The aim of this study was to identify potential relationship between the hypodontia and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Patients and methods. A retrospective study was conducted on 120 patients with EOC treated at the Department of Gynaecologic and Breast Oncology at the University Clinical Centre and 120 gynaecological healthy women (control group) of the same mean age. Women in both groups were reviewed for the presence of hypodontia and the patients with EOC also for clinicopathological characteristics of EOC according to hypodontia phenotype. Results. Hypodontia was diagnosed in 23 (19.2%) of patients with EOC and 8 (6.7%) controls (p = 0.004; odds ratio [OR] = 3.32; confidence interval [CI], 1.42-7.76). There was no statistically significant difference in patients with EOC with or without hypodontia regarding histological subtype (p = 0.220); they differed in regard to FIGO stage (p = 0.014; OR =3.26; CI, 1.23%8.64) and tumour differentiation grade (p = 0.042; OR = 3.1; CI, 1.01-9.53). Also, bilateral occurrence of EOC was more common than unilateral occurrence in women with hypodontia (p = 0.021; OR = 2.9; CI, 1.15-7.36). We also found statistically significant difference between the ovarian cancer group and control group in presence of other malignant tumours in subjects (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The results of the study suggest a statistical association between EOC and hypodontia phenotype. Hypodontia might serve as a risk factor for EOC detection.
Published in DiRROS: 23.04.2024; Views: 53; Downloads: 34
Full text (788,01 KB)
This document has many files! More...

Abstract: The main objective of the present study was to increase the specific surface area (SBET) of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) prepared from dicyandiamide by effectively modifying the synthesis procedure using the Simplex optimization method. A remarkable increase in SBET was achieved in only a few steps, with the highest value of 86 m2/g. Compared to the reference material, the improved photocatalyst exhibited enhanced and unique structural, textural, optical, and electronic properties, reflected in the improved ability of the photocatalyst to degrade a variety of organic pollutants dissolved in water. By performing scavenger and spin-trapping experiments, it was confirmed that the major reactive oxygen species formed under visible-light illumination of the enhanced photocatalyst were singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide anion radicals (O2–•) with a purposed formation mechanism. The enhanced formation of 1O2 enabled high activity and stability of the optimized materials as well as selective response to degradation of the pharmaceutical compounds studied. By using the simple and fast Simplex optimization algorithm to determine new synthesis parameters, we obtained an improved g-C3N4 that completely degrades bisphenol A under the conditions studied.
Published in DiRROS: 08.11.2023; Views: 264; Downloads: 143
Full text (3,78 MB)
This document has many files! More...

Keywords: forest policy, nature protection, cross-sectoral impacts, compensation payments
Published in DiRROS: 05.10.2023; Views: 419; Downloads: 110
Full text (100,50 KB)

Abstract: This paper develops a novel method of bridge damage detection using statistical analysis of data from an acceleration-based bridge weigh-in-motion (BWIM) system. Bridge dynamic analysis using a vehicle-bridge interaction model is carried out to obtain bridge accelerations, and the BWIM concept is applied to infer the vehicle axle weights. A large volume of traffic data tends to remain consistent (e.g., most frequent gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3-axle trucks); therefore, the statistical properties of inferred vehicle weights are used to develop a bridge damage detection technique. Global change of bridge stiffness due to a change in the elastic modulus of concrete is used as a proxy of bridge damage. This approach has the advantage of overcoming the variability in acceleration signals due to the wide variety of source excitations/vehicles–data from a large number of different vehicles can be easily combined in the form of inferred vehicle weight. One year of experimental data from a short-span reinforced concrete bridge in Slovenia is used to assess the effectiveness of the new approach. Although the acceleration-based BWIM system is inaccurate for finding vehicle axle-weights, it is found to be effective in detecting damage using statistical analysis. It is shown through simulation as well as by experimental analysis that a significant change in the statistical properties of the inferred BWIM data results from changes in the bridge condition.
Keywords: bridge health monitoring, bridge WIM, structural dynamics, damage detection, vehicle-bridge interaction
Published in DiRROS: 12.09.2023; Views: 303; Downloads: 147
Full text (8,01 MB)
This document has many files! More...