Leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus: results of surgical treatment

BACKGROUND: This study examined the results of surgical treatment of leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus. METHODS: Between January 1920 and December 1996, 17 patients (9 men and 8 women) with leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus were treated surgically at the Mayo Clinic. Median age was 58 years and ranged from 26 to 76 years. Symptoms included dysphagia in 11 patients (64.7%) and odynophagia in 6 (35.3%). The tumor was located in the middle third of the esophagus in 10 patients (58.8%) and in the cervical esophagus in 7 (41.2%). Procedures performed included esophagogastrectomy in 9 patients (Ivor Lewis in 5, left thoracoabdominal in 3, and transhiatal in 1), enucleation in 3, transgastric excision in 1, and exploration without resection in 4. RESULTS: The procedure was considered curative in 11 patients (64.7%). There was one operative death (mortality, 5.9%). Complications occurred in 3 patients (17.6%) and included anastomotic leak in 2 and bleeding requiring reoperation in 1. Growth pattern was infiltrating in 7, polypoid in 5, and intramural in 5. Histologically, the tumor was grade 1 in 6 patients, grade 2 in 2, grade 3 in 7, and grade 4 in 2. The tumor was postsurgically classified as stage I in 2 patients, stage IIA in 7, stage IIB in 1, stage IIIA in 5, stage IV in 1, and unknown in 1. Six patients (35.3%) received adjuvant treatment. Follow-up was complete in 16 patients (94.1%) and ranged from 1 to 182 months (median, 48 months). Five- and 10-year actuarial survivals were 47.0% and 31.0%, respectively. Seven patients (41.2%) are currently alive (median survival, 72 months); all underwent curative resection. Factors affecting survival included completeness of resection, growth pattern, postsurgical stage, tumor grade, and tumor location (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus is rare. Complete resection provides long-term survival.     

Deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

This article reports 10 cases of cranial base tumors resected by pre-or retro-auricular intratemporal approach. Among them four were neuronomas, two meningiomas, one malignant giant cell tumor of bone, one osteochondnoma, one parotid mixed neoplasm and one poorly-differentiated squamors cell carcinoma. Total resection in 9 cases and one subtotal resection were performed without operative mortality and serious surgical complications. The surgical management of cranial base tumor and indications for selecting operative approaches were discussed.     

Self-in-relation theory and the role of the clinical nurse specialist. Part II: Application to advanced nursing roles in a professional practice model

CONCEPTS AND ASSUMPTIONS of self-in-relation theory of women's development, as proposed by feminist scholars at the Stone Center in Wellesley, Massachusetts, are applied in this article. This theory was used as a framework to guide staff development and mentorship roles of advanced practice nurses. How the theory served to direct these roles and assisted in development of a professional practice model is discussed. Exemplars from the authors' practices and professional practice outcomes after 2 years of theory implementation are presented.     

(R,R)-2,2'-[1,2-ethanediylbis[imino(1-methyl-2,1-ethanediyl)]]- bis[5-nitro-1H-benz[de]isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)-dione] dimethanesulfonate (DMP 840), a novel bis-naphthalimide with potent nonselective tumoricidal activity in vitro

(R,R)-2,2'-[1,2-ethanediylbis[imino(1-methyl-2,1-ethanediyl)]]- bis[5-nitro-1H-benz[de]isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)-dione] dimethanesulfonate (DMP 840), is a bis-naphthalimide anticancer tumoricidal agent currently in phase I clinical trials. DMP 840 exhibits curative activity in human tumor xenografts, where it shows selectivity for human solid tumors over murine leukemias. In contrast to the selectivity found for DMP 840 in vivo, DMP 840 exhibits potent antiproliferative activity in vitro against a variety of human and murine leukemia and solid tumor cell lines in culture, with inhibitory doses that reduce the number of treated cells to one half (IC50) values ranging from 2.3 to 53 nM. DMP 840 was growth inhibitory to three doxorubicin-resistant cell lines with IC50 values also in the nanomolar range. Clonogenic survival experiments showed that DMP 840 was equally cytotoxic to both exponentially growing and quiescent human clone A colon carcinoma cells. A 1-h incubation of DMP 840 (1.22-12 microM) caused 5-log cell kill in KB-3-1 human epidermoid carcinoma, clone A human colon carcinoma, and L1210 murine leukemia cell lines. The rapid cell killing by DMP 840 in clonogenic survival experiments and initial mechanism of action studies was consistent with a DNA-interactive mechanism for DMP 840 cytotoxicity. Mechanism of action studies in L1210 leukemia cells demonstrated that DMP 840 inhibited the incorporation of thymidine and uridine into DNA and RNA with IC50 values of 0.55 and 0.08 microM, respectively. DMP 840 produced DNA single-strand breaks in a dose-dependent manner. Double-strand breaks were not observed with DMP 840 treatment, even at higher concentrations of compound. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and P388 cells resistant to camptothecin and containing a mutant form of topoisomerase I were also used to evaluate whether DMP 840 was cross-resistant with agents active against topoisomerase I. While the CHOR line was 163-fold resistant to camptothecin, the CHOR line was only 1.7-fold resistant to DMP 840. In summary, DMP 840 is a DNA-interactive agent that demonstrates excellent antiproliferative activity in vitro against cultured tumor cells from both human and murine sources. Its mechanism of tumoricidal activity may be novel.     

SuperLFV: An SLHA tool for lepton flavor violating observables in supersymmetric models

We introduce SuperLFV, a numerical tool for calculating low-energy observables that exhibit charged lepton flavor violation (LFV) in the context of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). As the Large Hadron Collider and MEG, a dedicated μ⁺→e⁺γ${\mu }^{+}\to e^{+}\gamma$ experiment, are presently acquiring data, there is need for tools that provide rapid discrimination of models that exhibit LFV. SuperLFV accepts a spectrum file compliant with the SUSY Les Houches Accord (SLHA), containing the MSSM couplings and masses with complex phases at the supersymmetry breaking scale. In this manner, SuperLFV is compatible with but divorced from existing SLHA spectrum calculators that provide the low energy spectrum. Hence, input spectra are not confined to the LFV sources provided by established SLHA spectrum calculators. Input spectra may be generated by personal code or by hand, allowing for arbitrary models not supported by existing spectrum calculators.     

Comparison of two IT DIR-SOFC models: Impact of variable thermodynamic, physical, and flow properties. Steady-state and dynamic analysis

This paper compares two dynamic, one-dimensional models of a planar anode-supported intermediate temperature (IT) direct internal reforming (DIR) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC): one where the flow properties (pressure, gas stream densities, heat capacities, thermal conductivities, and viscosity) and gas velocities are taken as constant throughout the system, based on inlet conditions, and one where this assumption is removed to focus on the effect of considering the variation of local flow properties on the prediction of the fuel cell performance. The refined model consists of mass, energy, and momentum balances, and of an electrochemical model that relates the fuel and air gas compositions and temperatures to voltage, current density, and other relevant fuel cell variables. Simulations for steady-state and dynamic conditions have been carried out and the results obtained from the two models compared. For a co-flow SOFC operating on a 10% pre-reformed methane fuel mixture, with 75% fuel utilisation, inlet fuel and air temperatures of 1023 K, average current density of , and an air ratio of 8.5, the results show that, although the error incurred in the prediction of the flow properties in the first model is significant, there is good agreement between both models in terms of the overall cell performance: the maximum difference in the local temperature values is about 7 K and the cell efficiency differs by less than 1%. However, the discrepancies between the two models increase, especially in the fuel channel, when higher current density values are assigned to the cell.     

Hyperfiltration for recycle of 82°C textile wash Water

A program to demonstrate high temperature hyperfiltration to renovate hot industrial wastewater for direct recycle is in Phase 2; the installation of a ～10m /hr membrane system to achieve closed cycle operation of a textile dye range. Hydrous-zirconium oxide-polyacrylate (ZOPA) membranes dynamically formed on porous sintered stainless steel tubes arranged in a Single Pass system will be supplied by the Mott-Brandon Corporation. Phase I of the program involved on-site pilot testing of several membranes, the procurement of competitive bids for the membrane system and the complete installation including all interface controls required for the dye operation.The 180°F (82°C) dye wash water contains residual dyes, auxiliary detergent and wetting agents, and guar gum. The total solids in the wash water range from 130 to 7000mg/l with the suspended solids ranging from 2 to 90 mg/l. The membrane system will be operated at 96% recovery. The concentrated residue is being studied for reuse or ultimate disposal through evaporation and/ or incineration. The performance of the membranes during the pilot tests, the laboratory evaluation of the reuse, and the complete recovery system are described.     

Simultaneous recovery of Pb and PbO2 from battery plant effluents. Part II

Results are reported of experiments and modelling of cathodic Pb and anodic PbO₂ electrodeposition, aimed at developing a process using both reactions simultaneously for treating aqueous effluents from lead–acid battery recycling plants. Pb(II) solubilities and equilibrium potentials were calculated as functions of pH and sulfate activities. Using kinetic parameters from the literature or determined experimentally, models were developed for current density–potential and current efficiency–potential relationships, together with the current density dependence of specific electrical energy consumptions for Pb(II) recovery. Experimental current density–potential and charge efficiency–potential relationships were in broad agreement with model predictions, with near unity current efficiencies for mass transport controlled PbO₂ deposition from electrolytes containing 1 mol Pb(II) m^–3 at pH 12. However, charge efficiencies for cathodic deposition of lead were typically 0.2 for 1 mol Pb(II) m^–3 + 1 mol O₂ (aq) m^–3; removal of dissolved oxygen was predicted and determined to increase current efficiencies to near unity. Pb(II) concentrations were depleted to <60 ppb in a batch recycle reactor system with graphite felt anodes and graphite or titanium felt cathodes. Simultaneous cathodic Pb and anodic PbO₂ electrodeposition resulted in more rapid Pb(II) depletion than for either reaction separately.     

Growth kinetics of bubbles electrogenerated at microelectrodes

The growth kinetics of electrogenerated hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine gas bubbles formed at microelectrodes, were determined photographically and fitted by regression analysis to the equation;r(t)=t ^x , wherer(t) is the bubble radius at timet after nucleation, the growth coefficient, andx the time coefficient. The coefficientx was found to decrease from a short time (< 10 ms) value near unity, typical of inertia controlled growth, through 0.5, characteristic of diffusional control, to 0.3, expected for Faradaic growth, at long times (\s> 100 ms). The current efficiency for bubble growth increased with bubble lifetime, reflecting the decrease in local dissolved gas supersaturation. The pH dependency of the bubble departure diameter indicated that, in surfactant-free electrolytes, double layer interaction forces between the negatively charged hydrogen evolving cathode or positively charged oxygen/chlorine evolving anode and positively (pH \s< 2) or negatively (pH \s> 3) charged bubbles, were the determining factor. The effect of addition of an increasing concentration of cationic (DoTAB) or anionic (SDoS) surfactant was to progressively reduce the pH effect on departure diameter, due to surfactant adsorption on the bubble and, to a lesser extent, on the electrode.Nomenclature C coefficient [3] - D diffusion coefficient (m² s^–1) - I current (A) - P pressure (kN m^–2) - R universal gas constant (8.314 J mol^–1 K^–1) - r bubble radius (m) - T absolute temperature (K) - t time (ms) - x time coefficient - zF molar charge (96 487z C mol^–1) - growth coefficient (m s^–0.33) - P Laplace excess pressure (kN m^–2) - surface tension (mN m^–1) - electrolyte density (kg m^–3) - contact angle () Paper presented at the International Meeting on Electrolytic Bubbles organized by the Electrochemical Technology Group of the Society of Chemical Industry, and held at Imperial College, London, 13–14 September 1984.     

Evaluating the Wisdom of Strangers: The Perceived Credibility of Online Consumer Reviews on Yelp

This study examined the effects of review valence, the reviewer profile, and the receiver's familiarity with the platform (user/nonuser) on the perceived credibility of a review on Yelp.com and on the receiver's attitude toward the reviewed object. The results demonstrated a difference in cue‐taking between users and nonusers. For users, there was an interaction effect of 2 profile cues (number of friends and number of reviews) on competence. Users interpreted the cues in combination, whereas non‐users were not influenced by them. The friends × reviews × platform familiarity interaction indirectly affected attitude through competence. Further, review valence was positively associated with perceived credibility and attitude. The findings support and extend the social information processing theory and cue combination literature.