Coordinative polymerization of p-substituted phenyl glycidyl ethers, 2

As a complementary study of a previous work about the influence of the electronic effects of p-substituted phenyl glycidyl ethers on the polymerization behaviour, a new series of monomers with electron-withdrawing groups was prepared, i.e., highly reactive p-functionalized poly(phenyl glycidyl ethers) were prepared. The polymerizations were carried out with four different aluminium-based coordinative initiators, (C₂H₅)₃Al/H₂O (mole ratio 1:0.6) (the Vandenberg catalyst), (C₂H₅)₃Al/CH₃COCH₂COCH₃/H₂O (mole ratio 1:1:0.5) (the Vandenberg chelate catalyst), [(CH₃)₂CHO]₂Al? O? Zn? O? Al[OCH(CH₃)₂]₂ (the Teyssié catalyst) and [(CH₃)₂CHO]₃Al/ZnCl₂ (the Price catalyst), all with different Lewis acid character. The influence of the electron withdrawing groups on the characteristics and conversion of polymers was studied. All polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showing higher tacticities when the Price catalysts was used. In some cases the degree of conversion was low due to passivation effects which were studied in several experiments.     

Are endometrial cancer radiotherapy results age related?

Objective

To analyze the impact of age on radiotherapy results based on cancer-specific survival (CSS), vaginal-cuff relapses (VCR) and complications analysis in 438 patients with endometrial carcinoma (EC) receiving postoperative radiotherapy (PRT) divided into three age groups for analysis.

Materials and methods

From 2003 to 2015, 438 patients with EC were treated with PRT and divided into three age groups: Group-1: 202 patients <?65 years; Group-2: 210 patients ≥?65 and <?80 years; Group-3: 26 patients ≥?80 years. Vaginal toxicity was assessed using the objective LENT-SOMA criteria and RTOG scores were recorded for the rectum, bladder, and small bowel. Statistics: Chi square and Student’s t tests, Kaplan–Meier survival study for analysis of CSS.

Results

The mean follow-up was 5.6 years in Group-1, 5.6 years in Group-2 and 6.3 years in Group-3 (p?=?0.38). No differences were found among the groups in distribution of stage, grade, myometrial invasion, Type 1 vs. 2 EC and VLSI (p?=?0.97, p?=?0.52, p?=?0.35, p?=?0.48, p?=?0.76, respectively). There were no differences in rectal, bladder and vagina late toxicity (p?=?0.46, p?=?0.17, p?=?0.75, respectively). A better CSS at 5 years was found in Group-1 (p?=?0.006), and significant differences were found in late severe small bowel toxicity in Group-3 (p?=?0.005). VCR was increased in Group-3 (p?=?0.017).

Conclusions

Patients ≥?65 years had a worse outcome in comparison to younger patients. Late vaginal, rectal and bladder toxicities were similar in the three groups, although an increase of severe late small bowel toxicity led to IMRT in patients ≥?80 years. Further larger studies are needed including quality of life analysis in patients ≥?80 years.

     

Acute liver failure in Spain: analysis of 267 cases.

The cause of acute liver failure (ALF) is a major determinant of its outcome. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose is a leading cause of ALF in some developed countries, whereas in others, such as Spain, it is extremely rare. To analyze the etiology, characteristics, and outcome of ALF in Spain, we performed a retrospective analysis of 267 patients whom we observed from 1992 to 2000. Seventeen tertiary-care hospitals with active liver transplantation (LT) programs contributed data. Causes of ALF were viral hepatitis in 98 (37%; hepatitis B virus in 75 patients), unknown in 86 (32%), drug or toxic reactions in 52 (19.5%; acetaminophen overdose in 6), and miscellaneous in 31 (11.6%). Overall survival was 58%. LT was performed in 150 patients, with a survival of 69%. Despite fulfilling criteria, 51 patients were not transplanted because of contraindications; their survival was only 7.8%. Forty-seven (85.5%) of 55 patients without transplant criteria survived. Hepatitis B virus is the most common cause of ALF in Spain, although the origin of 30% of cases remains undetermined. Acetaminophen overdose represents a very rare cause of ALF. LT was performed in >50% of cases. Patients without transplant criteria had a very good prognosis; those who fulfilled these criteria but who had contraindications for transplantation had a high mortality rate.     

Animal models of breast cancer for the study of pathogenesis and therapeutic insights

Activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumour suppressor genes are common events during breast cancer initiation and progression and often determine treatment responsiveness. Indeed, these events need to be recreated in in vitro systems and in mouse cancer models in order to unravel the molecular mechanisms involved in breast cancer initiation and metastasis and assess their possible impact on responses to anticancer drugs. Opticalbased imaging models are used to investigate and to follow important tumour progression processes. Moreover, the development of novel anticancer strategies requires more sensitive and less invasive methods to detect and monitor in vivo drug responses in breast cancer models. This review highlights some of the current strategies for modelling breast cancer in vitro and in the mouse, in order to answer biological or translational questions about human breast malignancies.     

Sexual Harassment among Young Tourists Visiting Mediterranean Resorts

Despite the known increase in substance use and risky sexual behaviors among young people during holiday periods, issues of sexual harassment (SH) and having sex against one’s will (SAW) have not received adequate attention. We implemented a cross-sectional airport-based study to identify experience of SH and SAW in 6,502 British and German holidaymakers aged 16–35 years visiting tourist resorts in Southern Europe (Crete, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) in summer 2009. Across all participants, 8.6 % reported SH during their holiday and 1.5 % reported SAW. Women reported higher levels of SH than heterosexual males. However, gay and bisexual males reported SH levels similar to females and the highest levels of SAW. Of 19 predictor variables tested, ten were independently associated with SH. SH was increased in those who were visitors to Mallorca or Crete, British, younger, female, gay or bisexual, frequently drunk on holiday, cocaine users, and attracted to bars where people get drunk, or where there are opportunities for sex. Among 13 predictor variables tested for SAW, four were significant. SAW reduced in those visiting Cyprus, and was strongly associated with being a gay or bisexual male, using cannabis on holiday and being attracted to bars where there were opportunities for sex. Holiday resorts represent a key location for SH and SAW, especially for holidaymakers who get drunk and use drugs. Preventive programs can raise awareness of the risks of unwanted sexual encounters on holiday and work with the tourist industry and tourist authorities to develop environments where sexual aggression is not tolerated.