Accelerated Life Testing of Biodegradable Starch Films with Nanoclay Using the Elongation Level as a Stressor.

An attempt was made to evaluate the elongation level as a stressor on biodegradable starch films reinforced with nanoclay using a simple linear model. A total of 120 film units were subjected to increasing elongation levels and the exact break time of the failed units was monitored. Nine different attempts were made to fit the data distribution and the lognormal distribution was chosen as the most suitable because it resulted in the lowest values of the regression fit indices -2LL, AICc and BIC.

Optimizing the Functional Properties of Starch-Based Biodegradable Films.

A definitive screening design was used in order to evaluate the effects of starch, glycerol and montmorillonite (MMT) concentrations, as well as the drying temperature, drying tray type and starch species, on packaging film's functional properties. Optimization showed that in order to obtain films with the minimum possible thickness, the maximum elongation at break, the maximum tensile strength, as well as reduced water vapor permeability and low opacity, a combination of factors should be used as follows: 5.5% wt starch concentration, 30% wt glycerol concentration on a dry starch basis, 10.

Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Versus Sleep Disturbances for NSCLC Patients.

Introduction: Cancer patients are known to experience sleep disturbances that differ between disease stages and treatments. Regarding lung cancer patients and immunotherapy, information on their sleep disturbances has been recently acquired, but no comparison has been made between different treatment modalities.

Patients And Methods: We recruited 98 non-small cell lung cancer patients; 49 had programmed death-ligand 1 expression of ≥50% and received immunotherapy as first-line treatment and 49 had programmed death-ligand 1 expression in the range from 0-49 and received chemotherapy as first-line treatment.

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Immunotherapy and Sleep Characteristics: The Crossroad for Optimal Survival.

Introduction: Non-small-cell lung cancer is still diagnosed at an inoperable stage and systematic treatment is the only option. Immunotherapy is currently considered to be the tip of the arrow as the first-line treatment for patients with a programmed death-ligand 1 ≥ 50. Sleep is known to be an essential part of our everyday life.

Radial-EBUS: CryoBiopsy Versus Conventional Biopsy: Time-Sample and C-Arm.

Introduction: Diagnosis of lung nodules is still under investigation. We use computed tomography scans and positron emission tomography in order to identify their origin.

Patients And Methods: In our retrospective study, we included 248 patients with a single lung nodule or multiple lung nodules of size ≥1 cm.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence is Associated with Lower Prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children and Adolescents.

Dietary patterns may have a role in the prevention of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The current study aimed at examining the association between FGIDs and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) among elementary school children (ESC), as well as high school students (HSS). In a prospective cohort study, data from 1116 subjects (387 ESC and 448 HSS) aged 6-18 years were collected.

Screening Olive Leaves from Unexploited Traditional Greek Cultivars for Their Phenolic Antioxidant Dynamic.

Quality characteristics of olive products significantly depend on cultivar (cv), among other factors. In this study, seven traditional, noncommercial Greek cultivars, along with the commercial Spanish Arbequina cv., were examined for the phenolic antioxidant dynamic of their leaves.

Roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, induces phagocytic activity in Greek COPD patients.

Background: A new approach to the treatment of COPD includes controlling inflammation because of its important role in exacerbation of the disease. Recently, roflumilast has been added as a therapeutic option for COPD. Roflumilast is an oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor that targets inflammatory cells involved in triggering exacerbations of COPD.

Assessing the treatment effect in metabolic syndrome without perceptible diabetes (ATTEMPT): a prospective-randomized study in middle aged men and women.

Aim: To assess the reduction in estimated cardiovascular disease (e-CVD) risk after multifactorial treatment for 6 months and follow this change during the next 3-years.

Patients-methods: This prospective, randomized, target driven study included 1,123 subjects (512/611 men/women, aged 45-65 years) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) without diabetes or CVD referred to specialist outpatient clinics. Patients were randomized to two treatment groups: group A with low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of < 100 mg/dl and group B with a target of < 130 mg/dl.

Primary pleomorphic adenoma of the external ear canal. Report of a case and literature review.

Introduction: Primary neoplasms of the external ear canal are rare, and 5% of these tumors are of glandular origin. Ceruminal glands are modified sweat glands of the skin of the external auditory meatus that may give rise to (a) benign tumors such as ceruminous adenoma, pleomorphic adenoma, and syringocystadenoma papilliferum, and (b) malignant tumors such as ceruminous adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. An alternative theory holds that pleomorphic adenomas may well arise from ectopic salivary tissue present in the external ear canal.

Synthesis and characterization of 3D CoPt nanostructures.

Cobalt platinum polypod-like nanostructures were synthesized by thermolytic reduction of Pt(acac)2 and Co(CH3COO)2 in oleylamine at 250 degrees C. The as-made CoPt nanopolypods are ferromagnetic, are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents, and reveal a coercive field of 525 and 1200 Oe at room temperature and 5 K, respectively.

Evaluation of various therapeutic schemes in the treatment of tinnitus due to acute acoustic trauma.

Objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness of various pharmaceutical therapeutic schemes in the treatment of tinnitus due to acute acoustic trauma.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included 108 military personnel (all males; mean age 22 years; range 18 to 31 years) with complaints of tinnitus due to acute acoustic trauma following firearm use. Involvement was in the left ear in 61 patients, the right ear in nine patients, and in both ears in 38 patients.

HbO-Arab mutation originated in the Pomak population of Greek Thrace.

HbO-Arab emerged about 2,000 years on a rare haplotype, characteristic of the Greek Pomaks. Its frequency increased as a consequence of high genetic drift within this population, and it was dispersed throughout the Mediterranean basin and Middle East with minor variations of its haplotypic pattern.

Synthesis of CoPt nanoparticles by a modified polyol method: characterization and magnetic properties.

CoPt nanoparticles with an average size of 3 nm and narrow distribution were synthesized by chemical reduction of Co(CH(3)COO)(2) and Pt(acac)(2) by polyethyleneglycol-200. The as-prepared nanoparticles have a disordered fcc structure which transformed after thermal treatment to an ordered fct structure, which results in coercivity up to 6 kOe at room temperature and 9 kOe at 5 K because of the high magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the tetragonal structure [Formula: see text].

Clays as a host matrix in the synthesis of organic macrocycles.

A new approach for the synthesis of amide macrocycles, based on the use of organo-clay derivatives as controlling template, is proposed as an alternative to the rotaxane method. Dications of p-xylylene diamine inserted in the clay interlayer space act as molding pillars around which neutral diamine molecules are erected via hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interactions to form supramolecular arrays. Condensation of diamines in the supramolecular arrays with diacetyl dichlorides yields various tetramide macrocycles in good yields.

Incidence and predisposing factors of pharyngocutaneous fistula formation after total laryngectomy. Is there a relationship with tumor recurrence?

Pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most common complication (8.7 to 22%) in the immediate postoperative period following total laryngectomy. The study's objective was to determine the incidence of post-laryngectomy fistulas in patients operated on in our department to establish whether specific factors predispose to fistula formation and to determine whether fistulas and tumor recurrence are related.

Organoclay Derivatives in the Synthesis of Macrocycles.

As an alternative to the rotaxane method, an organoclay can be used as a template for the efficient formation of macrocycles (ring in schematic representation) which are easily extracted from the clay interlayer space. The four-step synthesis involved preparation of a pillared clay from the dihydrochloride salt of p-xylylenediamine, insertion of neutral p-xylylenediamine into the pillared structure, reaction of the neutral p-xylylenediamine in the layers with isophthaloyl chloride and formation of the tetramide macrocycle, and extraction of the product from the clay.