Dynamics and Control of a Magnetic Transducer Array Using Multi-Physics Models and Artificial Neural Networks.

A linear mechanical oscillator is non-linearly coupled with an electromagnet and its driving circuit through a magnetic field. The resulting non-linear dynamics are investigated using magnetic circuit approximations without major loss of accuracy and in the interest of brevity. Different computational approaches to simulate the setup in terms of dynamical system response and design parameters optimization are pursued.

Let-7, mir-98 and mir-183 as biomarkers for cancer and schizophrenia [corrected].

Recent evidence supports a role of microRNAs in cancer and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, through their regulatory role on the expression of multiple genes. The rather rare co-morbidity of cancer and schizophrenia is an old hypothesis which needs further research on microRNAs as molecules that might exert their oncosuppressive or oncogenic activity in the context of their role in psychiatric disorders. The expression pattern of a variety of different microRNAs was investigated in patients (N = 6) suffering from schizophrenia termed control, patients with a solid tumor (N = 10) and patients with both schizophrenia and tumor (N = 8).

The effect of metronomic versus standard chemotherapy on the regulatory to effector T-cell equilibrium in cancer patients.

Background: The host's immune system is crucially involved in cancer development and progression. The ratio of regulatory to effector T-cells, as well as the interplay of T-cells with therapeutic agents, impact on cancer prognosis. The current study aimed to comparatively investigate the effect of metronomic and standard chemotherapy on the number and functionality of peripheral regulatory and effector T-cells in cancer patients.

Topoisomerase II alpha gene amplification is a favorable prognostic factor in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer treated with trastuzumab.

Background: The vast majority of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treated with trastuzumab eventually develop resistance to this agent. There is an unmet need therefore, for identifying biological markers with possible prognostic/predictive value in such patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of topoisomerase II alpha gene (TOP2A) amplification and protein (TopoIIa) expression in patients treated with trastuzumab-containing regimens.

Hepatoid pancoast tumor. A case report and review of the literature.

A 48-year-old male patient presented with a Pancoast tumor of the right lung and a serum alpha-fetoprotein (αFP) at 39,000 ng/ml. Alpha-fetoprotein is a tumor marker found elevated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), germ cell or stromal tumors of the ovary and nonseminomatous testicular cancer. Occasionally, this tumor marker may rise in non-neoplastic conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis and only exceptionally in rare cancers with hepatoid differentiation.

A randomized phase III trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan, leucovorin and fluorouracil versus leucovorin and fluorouracil for stage II and III colon cancer: a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group study.

Background: Colon cancer is a public health problem worldwide. Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection for stage III colon cancer has been shown to improve both progression-free and overall survival, and is currently recommended as standard therapy. However, its value for patients with stage II disease remains controversial.

Irinotecan/fluorouracil/leucovorin or the same regimen followed by oxaliplatin/fluorouracil/leucovorin in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: This study reports the long-term follow-up of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) participating in a randomised phase II study that compared the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of irinotecan (IRI), fluorouracil (FU) with leucovorin (LV) (arm A) versus sequential chemotherapy with IRI plus FU/LV followed by oxaliplatin (OXA) plus FU/LV (arm B) as first line therapy.

Materials And Methods: Intent-to-treat analysis was performed on 417 patients (211 in arm A and 206 in arm B). Treatment schedules of weekly IRI 80 mg/m(2) or OXA 45 mg/m(2) plus LV 200 mg/m(2) immediately followed by intravenous bolus FU 450 mg/m(2) for 6 weeks were followed by a 2-week rest period.

Panhypopituitarism due to metastases to the hypothalamus and the pituitary resulting from primary breast cancer: a case report and review of the literature.

Pituitary metastasis occurs rarely in cancer patients and often remains undiagnosed. However, early detection and appropriate treatment can improve the patient's quality of life and possibly prolong survival. Herein, we describe the case of a 52-year-old woman with panhypopituitarism caused by metastases to the hypothalamus and pituitary from primary breast cancer.

Topoisomerase I but not thymidylate synthase is associated with improved outcome in patients with resected colorectal cancer treated with irinotecan containing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Thymidylate synthase (TS) and Topoisomerase I (Topo I) are significant biomarkers in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to study the expression of TS and Topo I in patients with resected CRC who received adjuvant chemotherapy and correlated it with clinical outcome.

Methods: All patients diagnosed with CRC between 1989 and 2007 and treated with adjuvant chemotherapy within Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group's (HeCOG) protocols, were identified.

Combination chemotherapy with docetaxel, vinorelbine and estramustine phosphate in metastatic androgen-resistant prostate cancer: a single institution experience.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of docetaxel, vinorelbine and oral estramustine in androgen-resistant prostate cancer (ARPC).

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two eligible patients were treated with docetaxel at 30 mg/m2 (day 1 and 8), vinorelbine at 20 mg/m2 (day 1 and 8), and oral estramustine of 280 mg p.o.

Methotrexate, paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in poor-risk nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.

Objective: The efficacy and tolerability of M-TIP was evaluated as first-line treatment for patients with poor-risk germ cell tumors (GCT), according to International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) criteria.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients with poor-risk GCT were treated with M-TIP (methotrexate 250 mg/m(2) given as a 4-hour infusion with folinic acid rescue on day 1, paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) given as a 3-hour infusion on day 1, followed by ifosfamide 1.2 g/m(2) given as a 2-hour infusion and cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) given as a 2-hour infusion on days 2 to 6) regimen for four cycles.

Myelotoxicity as a prognostic factor in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with chemotherapy: a pooled analysis of two randomised trials conducted by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

Background: A number of studies have shown that absence of myelotoxicity during chemotherapy is associated with worse outcome for various types of cancer, including carcinoma of the breast. The aim of this study was to determine whether myelosuppression in patients being treated with chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer has an impact on their prognosis.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of a series of 475 patients with advanced breast cancer enrolled in two randomised trials, who received first-line chemotherapy.

Biliogastric diversion for the management of high-output duodenal fistula: report of two cases and literature review.

High-output duodenal fistula occurs as a result of a duodenal wall defect caused by gastroduodenal surgery, endoscopic sphincterotomy, duodenal injury, and tumors with high morbidity and mortality rate. A new technique for its management is reported along with literature review. This procedure consists of transection of the duodenum 2 cm distally to the pylorus, transection of the common bile duct, and end duodenostomy with or without suturing the duodenal wall defect.

Gemcitabine combined with gefitinib in patients with inoperable or metastatic pancreatic cancer: a phase II Study of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group with biomarker evaluation.

The combination of gemcitabine and gefitinib was evaluated in advanced pancreatic cancer. Totally, 53 patients were treated with a 7 week cycle of gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2) given weekly) followed by six 4 week cycles of gemcitabine given on days 1, 8 and 15. Gefitinib 250 mg was administered daily.

Docetaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy as outpatient palliative therapy in carcinoma of unknown primary: a multicentre Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group phase II study.

Introduction: Taxane/platinum combinations exhibit synergistic cytotoxicity and activity against a broad range of solid tumours. We sought to optimise the regimen as a suitable outpatient palliative treatment for cancer of unknown primary (CUP).

Patients And Methods: Eligible CUP patients with adenocarcinoma or poorly differentiated carcinoma, performance status of 0-2, adequate organ function and assessable disease were treated with docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and carboplatin at an area under the concentration time-curve (AUC) of 5, both as 30-minute intravenous infusions, every three weeks.

Combination chemotherapy with carboplatin, paclitaxel and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for advanced or recurrent carcinosarcoma of the uterus: clinical experience of a single institution.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of carboplatin, paclitaxel and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combination in advanced or recurrent of the uterine carcinosarcoma.

Methods: Twenty-nine eligible patients with measurable disease were treated with carboplatin [area under the curve (AUC) 5], paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 25 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks for 6-8 cycles.

Results: There were 10 complete responses (CRs) (34%) and 8 partial responses (PRs) (28%) for an overall response rate (RR) of 62% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43-81%).

Phase II study of low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas with fludarabine and mitoxantrone followed by rituximab consolidation: promising results in marginal zone lymphoma.

The majority of patients with indolent lymphomas relapse due to minimal residual disease (MRD). In the present study, we sought to determine whether by using rituximab consolidation, for eradication of MRD, following induction chemotherapy with fludarabine and mitoxantrone (FN) combination could improve the outcome of indolent lymphomas. Patients with indolent lymphoma received fludarabine 25 mg/m2 Day 1-3 and mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2 on Day 1 every 28 days.

Her-2 protein expression, cellular localization, and gene amplification in colorectal carcinoma.

This study was sought to evaluate the relationship between Her-2 protein expression, cellular localization, gene amplification, and other clinicopathologic parameters in colorectal carcinomas. Her-2 protein expression and gene amplification were assessed in paraffin sections from 106 primary colorectal adenocarcinoma cases using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Both membranous and cytoplasmic immunostaining was evaluated.

A clinicopathological study of B-cell differentiation markers and transcription factors in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma: a potential prognostic role of MUM1/IRF4.

Background And Objectives: Although most patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL) are cured, a significant minority are refractory to treatment. The investigation of biological markers could improve the predictive capacity of clinical staging systems. The aim of our study was to detect B-cell differentiation markers and transcription factors in CHL in order to define subgroups with different histogeneses and prognoses.

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study of 128 cases in Greece. A Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group study (HeCOG).

The aim of this retrospective study was to illustrate the clinicopathologic data and the treatment results in patients with primary gastrointestinal tract non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI NHL). Among 810 patients with NHL, 128 cases (15.8%) were diagnosed as primary GI tract NHL.

Clinicopathologic significance of EGFR and Her-2/neu in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Her2/neu protein expression in colorectal cancer.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed in paraffin-embedded specimens of 106 colorectal carcinomas for the assessment of EGFR and Her-2 expression. The results were correlated with traditional clinicopathologic parameters and patient outcome.

Non-palpable breast carcinomas: correlation of mammographically detected malignant-appearing microcalcifications and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family expression.

Malignant-appearing microcalcifications (MAMCs) represent one of the earliest mammographic findings of non-palpable breast carcinomas (NPBCs). In the present study, we have evaluated the expression of all EGFR family members in NPBCs and its possible association with MAMCs. Three hundred and fifty patients with non-palpable suspicious breast lesions detected during screening mammography were studied.

Prognostic significance of HER3 and HER4 protein expression in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Background: Colorectal cancer remains a major cause of cancer mortality in the Western world. A limited number of studies has been conducted in respect of Her-3 and Her-4 expression and their correlation with clinical parameters and prognosis in colorectal carcinomas . In this study we sought to determine the pattern and the prognostic significance of HER-3 and HER-4 in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

A phase II study of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX): a new first-line option in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Capecitabine and oxaliplatin are both effective and well-tolerated monotherapies for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Oxaliplatin has also been shown to be very effective when combined with 5-FU/LV in the first-line setting.

Aim Of The Study: Assess the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) in patients with previously untreated advanced CRC.