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Studies on prognostic factors for patients undergoing surgery to treat solitary liver metastases originating from colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited. This study aimed to analyze significant prognostic factors associated with tumor recurrence and long-term survival after liver resection for solitary colorectal liver metastasis. Data from 230 patients with solitary liver metastases from CRC who received liver resection between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were accessed with the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test. Cox regression multivariate analysis identified independent variables associated with RFS and OS. Nomograms were developed to predict patient outcomes after surgery. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 72.3% and 59.8%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year RFS rates were 40.0% and 27.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed age ≥ 70 years, resection margin width < 10 mm, initial N2 stage, hypoalbuminemia before surgery, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥ 3 after surgery as independent prognostic factors for OS. For RFS, initial N2 stage, hypoalbuminemia before surgery, NLR ≥ 3 after surgery, elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels after surgery, and CEA ratio (after/before liver resection) < 0.3 were identified as independent prognostic factors. This study demonstrated that initial N2 stage, hypoalbuminemia before liver resection, and NLR ≥ 3 after liver resection exert a significant association on the RFS and OS of patients undergoing surgery for solitary liver metastases from CRC. Thus, upfront chemotherapy, prompt postoperative chemotherapy, and intensive postoperative surveillance are mandatory for patients having these adverse factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Localized vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract (LVGT) was mainly polyarteritis nodosa on small bowel and gall bladder. • Localized eosinophilic vasculitis of the colon is a rare form of LVGT with limited reports. • The laboratory findings in LVGT are mostly nonspecific. • Surgery is the primary treatment in LVGT, but the following immunosuppressant treatment is often needed. Localized vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon disease that mainly presents as polyarteritis nodosa and is mainly located on small bowel and gall bladder. Localized eosinophilic vasculitis of the colon, which needs surgical intervention, has never been reported before. A 40-year-old man was diagnosed with localized eosinophilic vasculitis of the colon with an initial presentation of necrotizing colitis of ascending colon. After right hemicolectomy, extensive thrombosis of the liver and spleen occurred with the presentation of abdominal pain. The histopathological analysis revealed ischemic colitis with eosinophilic vasculitis in medium-sized vessels throughout the colon. The thrombosis was improved after prednisolone and azathioprine were given. The results of all autoimmune tests, including those for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, were all negative except the elevation of serum immunoglobulin E (680 kU/L [normal, <25 kU/L]). Although the patient failed to meet the criteria of the Churg-Strauss syndrome, this case may represent an atypical localized variant of eosinophilic vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract. Immunosuppressant therapy should be considered after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the feasibility of enhanced energy yield in gasification of rice straw by using a prepared iron-based catalyst. The prepared iron-based catalyst containing 2% (wt%) Fe 2 O 3 was produced by wet impregnation process. Based on the results of produced gas yield, the yield amounts of combustible gases increased with an increase in the prepared iron-based catalyst addition. In the case of gasification temperature 800 °C and below, the yield amount of combustible gas increased by using the prepared iron-based catalyst. Besides, the energy yield efficiency was approximately enhanced from 8% to 74% with the iron-based catalyst addition. In the case of gasification temperature 800 °C and iron-based catalyst addition, the energy yield efficiency of combustible gases is similar with that of gasification temperature 900 °C and without catalyst addition. That is, prepared iron-based catalyst has the good potential for converting rice straw into bio-energy and for reducing the energy requirement in gasification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the feasibility of co-gasification of sewage sludge and paper-mill sludge in a commercial scale plant and its application for sludge-to-energy conversion. The results indicated that the thermal reaction activity is increased with an increase in the amount of sewage sludge. This is due to the sewage sludge contains less fixed carbon content could decrease the activation energy, resulting in a thermal reaction is significantly enhanced. The synthetic gas (syngas) composition, that includes H 2 and CO, ranged from percentages of 2.59%–4.13% and 3.2%–6.91%, respectively. The heating value of the produced gas ranged from 1.67 MJ/Nm 3 to 2.56 MJ/Nm 3 , which was coupled with cold gas efficiency (CGE) that ranged from 46.6% to 77%. In the case of two tons of wet tested sludge with 67% moisture content, it could produce one ton of dry tested sludge with 30% moisture content after a drying process, and produce approximately 2.2 tons of syngas in gasification. After using a boiler and heat exchanger for energy recovery, it is possible to recover 4.46 tons of steam. This steam could provide energy for the dryer, and constitutes a positive sum on the energy balance in a commercial scale gasification plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]