Hydrotalcite-supported palladium nanoparticles as catalysts for the hydroarylation of carbon–carbon multiple bonds

Palladium nanoparticles supported on hydrotalcites catalyze the hydroarylation reaction of carbon–carbon multiple bonds.

Statistical independence of the initial conditions in chaotic mixing

Experimental evidence of the scalar convergence towards a global strange eigenmode independent of the scalar initial condition in chaotic mixing is provided. This convergence, underpinning the independent nature of chaotic mixing in any passive scalar, is presented by scalar fields with different initial conditions casting statistically similar shapes when advected by periodic unsteady flows. As the scalar patterns converge towards a global strange eigenmode, the scalar filaments, locally aligned with the direction of maximum stretching, as described by the Lagrangian stretching theory, stack together in an inhomogeneous pattern at distances smaller than their asymptotic minimum widths. The scalar variance decay becomes then exponential and independent of the scalar diffusivity or initial condition. In this work, mixing is achieved by advecting the scalar using a set of laminar flows with unsteady periodic topology. These flows, that resemble the tendril-whorl map, are obtained by morphing the forcing geometry in an electromagnetic free surface 2D mixing experiment. This forcing generates a velocity field which periodically switches between two concentric hyperbolic and elliptic stagnation points. In agreement with previous literature, the velocity fields obtained produce a chaotic mixer with two regions: a central mixing and an external extensional area. These two regions are interconnected through two pairs of fluid conduits which transfer clean and dyed fluid from the extensional area towards the mixing region and a homogenized mixture from the mixing area towards the extensional region.

A low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope capable of microscopy and spectroscopy in a Bitter magnet at up to 34 T

We present the design and performance of a cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope (STM) which operates inside a water-cooled Bitter magnet, which can attain a magnetic field of up to 38 T. Due to the high vibration environment generated by the magnet cooling water, a uniquely designed STM and a vibration damping system are required. The STM scan head is designed to be as compact and rigid as possible, to minimize the effect of vibrational noise as well as fit the size constraints of the Bitter magnet. The STM uses a differential screw mechanism for coarse tip-sample approach, and operates in helium exchange gas at cryogenic temperatures. The reliability and performance of the STM are demonstrated through topographic imaging and scanning tunneling spectroscopy on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite at T = 4.2 K and in magnetic fields up to 34 T.

Abstract P3-12-06: Saving in clinical trials: A possible challenge for improving health care for breast cancer patients

Background: The economic crisis that has characterized recent years has required a careful spending review worldwide and particularly in Italy Health Care System. This resulted in substantial cuts in terms of services and drugs prescriptions.

For this reason, it becomes very important to adopt measures aimed to save health care costs, maintaining at the same time the highest standard of health care. The enrollment in clinical trials (CTs) may encourage this goal, making high-cost drugs available.

Methods: We compared the overall expenses for an oncology patient treated with standard therapy (reference: public hospital price list) to a similar patient enrolled in a CT. The cost comparison was made considering a patient affected by Her2 positive breast cancer in three different settings: neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and advanced/metastatic disease. We considered three categories of cost: diagnostic procedures; drug purchase; drug management. All analyses were performed considering an average treatment period and dose, calculated on a middleweight patient.

We take into account the absolute saving in Euro (€) and the percentage one.

Results: The data show a saving in all treatment lines, referring to the analyzed cost groups.

In neoadjuvant setting, the estimated patient standard cost is 92.829,00€; we calculated a saving of 92.451,00€ (93,74%), of which 1.226,00€ for diagnostic procedures charge (65%), 89.205,00€ for drug purchase (100%) and 2.020,00€ for drug management (116%).

In adjuvant setting, where the estimated standard cost is 25.527,00€, we observed a saving of 23.332,00€ (51%): 22.392,00€ (98% of drug purchase) and 940,00€ (54%) for drug management; no saving for diagnostic procedures.

Regarding the metastatic breast cancer treatment, we calculated a saving of 115.158,00€ (88%) compared to 115.571,00€, that means the estimated standard cost. In this case the saving is allocated as follows: 750,00€ for diagnostic procedures (64.5%), 113.508,00€ for drug purchase (100%) and 900,00€ for drug management (100%).

Conclusions: CTs are useful in order to save money in the overall patient management, allowing them to have access to expensive innovative drugs.

Moreover, we have to consider the additional fees provided by Sponsor for each enrolled patient.

This basic model of cost analysis could be used by Institutional Health Care stakeholders for spending review strategies.

The public institutes with the characteristics of Comprehensive Cancer Center are essential to recruiting the needed study population for Sponsorized CTs, and the cashed and saved money can be reinvested for improving Breast Cancer patients care.Background: The economic crisis that has characterized recent years has required a careful spending review worldwide and particularly in Italy Health Care System. This resulted in substantial cuts in terms of services and drugs prescriptions.

For this reason, it becomes very important to adopt measures aimed to save health care costs, maintaining at the same time the highest standard of health care. The enrollment in clinical trials (CTs) may encourage this goal, making high-cost drugs available.

Methods: We compared the overall expenses for an oncology patient treated with standard therapy (reference: public hospital price list) to a similar patient enrolled in a CT. The cost comparison was made considering a patient affected by Her2 positive breast cancer in three different settings: neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and advanced/metastatic disease. We considered three categories of cost: diagnostic procedures; drug purchase; drug management. All analyses were performed considering an average treatment period and dose, calculated on a middleweight patient.

We take into account the absolute saving in Euro (€) and the percentage one.

Results: The data show a saving in all treatment lines, referring to the analyzed cost groups.

In neoadjuvant setting, the estimated patient standard cost is 92.829,00€; we calculated a saving of 92.451,00€ (93,74%), of which 1.226,00€ for diagnostic procedures charge (65%), 89.205,00€ for drug purchase (100%) and 2.020,00€ for drug management (116%).

In adjuvant setting, where the estimated standard cost is 25.527,00€, we observed a saving of 23.332,00€ (51%): 22.392,00€ (98% of drug purchase) and 940,00€ (54%) for drug management; no saving for diagnostic procedures.

Regarding the metastatic breast cancer treatment, we calculated a saving of 115.158,00€ (88%) compared to 115.571,00€, that means the estimated standard cost. In this case the saving is allocated as follows: 750,00€ for diagnostic procedures (64.5%), 113.508,00€ for drug purchase (100%) and 900,00€ for drug management (100%).

Conclusions: CTs are useful in order to save money in the overall patient management, allowing them to have access to expensive innovative drugs.

Moreover, we have to consider the additional fees provided by Sponsor for each enrolled patient.

This basic model of cost analysis could be used by Institutional Health Care stakeholders for spending review strategies.

The public institutes with the characteristics of Comprehensive Cancer Center are essential to recruiting the needed study population for Sponsorized CTs, and the cashed and saved money can be reinvested for improving Breast Cancer patients care.

Citation Format: Taverniti C, Bonfadini C, Pradotto M, Cagnazzo C, Demartini P, Rossi L, Ignazzi G, Arizio F, Beano A. Saving in clinical trials: A possible challenge for improving health care for breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-12-06.

White clover: the forgotten component of high-producing pastures?

The contribution of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) to nitrogen fixation and feed quality in mixed pastures is indisputable, but the benefits of clover inclusion to total herbage accumulation (HA) are less clear. Results from four experiments comparing mixed pastures of white clover–perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with perennial ryegrass monocultures are presented. These experiments covered a range of environments (dryland northern New Zealand and irrigated southern New Zealand), management inputs (nitrogen (N) fertiliser rates and defoliation management), and genotypes of ryegrass and white clover. Mixtures resulted in a significantly greater HA than did monocultures in 7 of the 8 years for which data were available; the interaction between pasture type (monoculture or mixture) and N rate was significant in six of those years, with a greater advantage in HA for mixtures under low N rates (mean = 3.08 t DM/ha.year) than under high N rates (mean = 1.54 t DM/ha.year). Two-thirds to four-fifths of the yield advantage under grazing was due to the direct effect of clover contribution (which ranged between 10% and 30% of total annual yield) to HA, most of which accrued in summer. The remainder was due to the capture of additional clover-derived N by the grass component of the mixture, estimated to equate to 50–60 kg N/ha under low N-fertiliser rates and 15–35 kg N/ha under high N rates. The magnitude and consistency of the yield advantages observed here indicates that there are unrealised yield and other benefits not currently being captured in New Zealand dairy production systems, largely because they are negated by the use of high N-fertiliser rates. The agronomic practices required to support clover-rich mixed pastures receiving moderate rates of N fertiliser are well documented and can be applied to help deal with nutrient loss limits required by environmental regulations plus volatility in farm-gate milk prices.

A new vinyl selenone-based domino approach to spirocyclopropyl oxindoles endowed with anti-HIV RT activity

Herein, we disclose a general and flexible access to spirocyclopropyl oxindoles by a domino Michael/intramolecular nucleophilic substitution pathway with variously substituted vinyl selenones and enolizable oxindoles in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The spirocyclopropyl oxindole being a privileged scaffold, some of the synthesized compounds were selected for biological evaluation. Compound showed selective anti-HIV-1 activity thanks to its ability to inhibit the reverse transcriptase.

Surgical management of papillary thyroid carcinoma in childhood and adolescence: an Italian multicenter study on 250 patients

PURPOSE

The extent of surgery for pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma is debatable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of offering pediatric patients a tailored surgical approach based on certain clinical features.

METHODS

A national multicenter retrospective review of 250 pediatric patients treated for papillary thyroid carcinoma in a 14-year period was performed. Outcomes of interest included tumor-related features, type of surgery, surgical morbidity, disease-free and overall survival rates. Recurrence was thoroughly analyzed with particular focus on how it correlated with certain patient- and tumor-related features.

RESULTS

The majority of patients (58.8 %) had tumors >2 cm in size. Nodal involvement occurred in 115/250 (46 %) patients and distant metastasis in 4 % (10/250). Total thyroidectomy and lobectomy were performed in 90.4 % (226/250) and 9.6 % (24/250) of patients, respectively. The overall rate of surgical complications was 20.8 % (52/250). These included transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism (13.6 and 4.4 %, respectively), and vocal fold palsy (2.8 %). All surgical complications occurred exclusively in the total thyroidectomy group. The rate of recurrent disease was 12 % (30/250) with the vast majority of recurrences (96.6 %) occurring in the total thyroidectomy group. The risk of recurrence correlated significantly with certain tumor-related features (size > 2 cm, multifocality, extrathyroidal invasion, nodal positivity, and distant metastasis). However, it did not correlate with the patient's age or sex. Overall survival was 100 %.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric patients are likely to benefit from a tailored surgical strategy. Uniformly offering patients total thyroidectomy seems to be an overly radical approach.