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Summary: Objectives: Platinum-based chemotherapy is the recognized first-line treatment for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However there is no standard second-line treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination (GV) in patients with metastatic NPC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 61 patients with metastatic NPC after prior platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled. Gemcitabine (1000mg/m2) and vinorelbine (25mg/m2) were administered intravenously on Day 1 and Day 8 every 3weeks. Results: In this study, the overall response rate was 37.7% (95% CI, 25.5–49.9%) one complete response (1.6%) and 22 partial responses (36.1%). The median progression-free survival was 5.2months (95% CI, 3.4–7.0months) and the median overall survival was 14.1months (95% CI, 11.1–17.1months). Grade 3/4 toxicity including leucopenia (19.7%), neutropenia (18%), anemia (4.9%) and thrombocytopenia (6.5%) were tolerable. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated age and salvage treatment after failure of GV treatment were independently significant prognostic factors. Conclusion: Our preliminary result shows gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination is effective and safe for the patients with advanced NPC pretreated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Further clinical study is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochomic VO 2 thin films are fabricated by using high power impulse magnetron sputtering at room temperature. In order to increase the crystallinity and transparency of VO 2 thin films, first a buffer layer of TiO 2 is deposited on the glass substrate. Then TiO 2 /VO 2 stacks are post-annealed at a temperature of 500 °C for 3 min. The transmittance as functions of film thickness and O 2 /Ar ratio during film deposition is discussed. It is found that the O/V atomic ratio decreases with increasing O 2 /Ar ratio, which is due to serious inter-diffusion inside stacked layers. At high O 2 /Ar ratio, columnar-shaped crystals are suggested, which belongs to V 2 Ti 3 O 9 :Si quaternary oxide. The depth profiles of binding energies measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are compared with different O 2 /Ar ratios. Good endurance property for a thermal stress cycle of 25 °C/85 °C is obtained under the O 2 /Ar ratio of 6%. The laminated film shows satisfactory optical properties with an excellent solar regulation efficiency (Δ T sol = 10.4%) and an applicable luminous transmittance (T lum = 35.2%) in a low-temperature state. • VO 2 films are fabricated by HIPIMS and annealed with a low thermal budget. • Films show good solar regulation efficiency and applicable luminous transmittance. • Good endurance properties are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]