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Abstract: The possibility to produce oxidizing agents from water (mainly radicals) in a three-compartment electrochemical cell, by heterogeneous catalytic reaction between a semiconductor and water under a superimposed electric field, was assessed for the degradation of non-biodegradable toxic organic compounds. The treated solution is not in contact with electrodes to avoid, in the case of high content of chlorine salt, chlorine and indirect chlorinated hydrocarbons generation. The specific pollutant abatement per unit power was when starting from a phenol concentration of 100ppmw, a comparable figure to those obtainable with the best direct anodic electro-oxidation processes. The rate of radicals generation was found to depend on several factors: imposed current density, electric field and electrical resistivity of the phases involved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier] more...

ObjectiveMalnutrition is frequent in cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, in Spain, of malnutrition in cancer patients with advanced disease and to assess the therapeutic focus.MethodsA total of 781 patients were evaluated to determine individual nutritional status using the Scored Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (Scored PG-SGA) questionnaire. Almost 60% of the patients included were receiving cancer treatment.ResultsPatients with the highest weight loss were those with tumours of oesophagus (57%), stomach (50%) and larynx (47%). Serious eating problems were encountered by 68% of the patients; the principal problem being anorexia (42.2%). The median number of symptoms impeding food intake was 2. According to the Scored PG-SGA, 52% of the patients were moderately or severely malnourished and 97.6% required some form of nutritional intervention/recommendation.Conclusions(a) the majority of patients in the study needed nutritional intervention; (b) more than 50% had moderate or severe malnutrition; (c) the Scored PG-SGA is a useful and simple tool for evaluating nutritional status and contains additional information on nutritional recommendations; (d) nutritional evaluation of the cancer patients needs to be improved so as to offer better treatment of symptoms and to improve the patient's quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

• The uptake and accumulation of perchlorate in spinach and chard under greenhouse conditions were studied. • Spinach accumulates more perchlorate than chard (T 2 ˃ T 1): leaves ˃ shoots ˃ stems ˃ roots. • Chard accumulates half the amount of perchlorate in the shoot than spinach. • The intake of spinach or chard (T 2 > T 1) represents a significant risk to human health, especially at 1–3 years old. Very little information is available with regards to the bioavailability of perchlorate in spinach or chard used in the production of baby foods commodities. In the present study, the uptake and accumulation of perchlorate were compared under two different treatments (T1: 1 and T2: 10 mg L−1 ClO 4 −). Our results indicate that spinach has a higher capacity to accumulate perchlorate than chard (p < 0.0185). Concentrations of perchlorate in leaves, stems and roots (leaves > stem > roots) all gradually increased (p < 0.0001) as vegetable growing and treatment (T2 > T1). No significant differences were found between the control and T1. The daily intake for perchlorate (control) is below the proposed international standard, however, it was exceeded in T1 and T2. The results suggested that perchlorate is actively accumulate in high concentrations in vegetables used in the production of baby food commodities and the exposure of perchlorate via the food consumption (baby foods) was evaluated as not safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: We aimed to compare the additional benefit of gemcitabine when combined with vinorelbine above that of standard vinorelbine treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer.Methods: In this phase III, multicentre, open-label, randomised study, 252 women with locally recurrent and metastatic breast cancer who had been pretreated with anthracyclines and taxanes were randomly assigned single-agent vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2), days 1 and 8) or gemcitabine plus vinorelbine (1200/30 mg/m(2), days 1 and 8). Both study treatments were administered intravenously every 21 days until disease progression, unacceptable toxic effects, or stoppage at the request of investigator or patient. The primary endpoint was median progression-free survival. Secondary objectives included assessments of response rate, disease duration, overall survival, and characterisation of the toxicity profiles of both regimens. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00128310.Findings: Between 2001 and 2005, 252 women were recruited and randomised for treatment. One of these patients was ineligible. Prognostic factors were well balanced between treatment groups (median number of metastatic sites in combination group 2 (range 0-5) and in vinorelbine group 2 (range 1-6); visceral disease in 76% and 75% of patients, respectively). Median progression-free survival was 6.0 months (95% CI 4.8-7.1) for patients given gemcitabine plus vinorelbine and 4.0 months (2.9-5.1) for those assigned vinorelbine; there was 1.9 months of difference (hazard ratio 0.66 [0.50-0.88]; p=0.0028). Overall survival was 15.9 months (12.6-19.1) for the gemcitabine plus vinorelbine group and 16.4 months (11.6-21.0) for the vinorelbine group; there was 0.5 months of difference (hazard ratio 1.04 [0.78-1.39]; p=0.8046). Objective response rates were 36% for patients assigned gemcitabine plus vinorelbine (n=45) and 26% for those assigned vinorelbine (n=33) (p=0.093). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was reported in 75 (61% [52-70]) of the participants assigned gemcitabine plus vinorelbine, compared with 55 (44% [35-53]) of those assigned vinorelbine alone (p=0.0074). Febrile neutropenia occurred in 13 (11%) of those assigned gemcitabine plus vinorelbine, and in seven (6%) of those assigned vinorelbine alone (p=0.15). Incidences of grade 3 or 4 non-haematological toxic effects were similar between the two treatment groups.Interpretation: Patients with metastatic breast cancer assigned gemcitabine and vinorelbine had better progression-free survival compared with those assigned vinorelbine alone. However, this finding did not translate into a difference in overall survival. Although toxicity was manageable, patients in the combined group had more haematological toxic effects. These factors should be taken into account when deciding which chemotherapy patients should receive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In patients with congestive heart failure, abnormal heart rate variability is a predictor of total mortality and sudden cardiac death. Drugs that improve heart rate variability may have a potential role for improving the survival among these patients. The effects of clonidine were studied in 24 patients with congestive heart failure, sinus rhythm, a left ventricular ejection fraction <0.40, and systolic blood pressure > 115 mm Hg. A 6-minute corridor walk test and 24-hour Holter monitoring were performed before and 42+/-24 days after initiation of clonidine therapy (Catapres-TTS patch, mean dose: 0.33+/-0.21 mg). Changes in other medications used at baseline were not allowed. One patient died suddenly. Two patients did not complete the protocol due to worsening congestive heart failure, which required changes in medications, 1 patient discontinued due to hypotension, and 2 for personal reasons. Among the 18 patients who completed the protocol, the mean RR interval of sinus beats increased from 760+/-106 to 822+/-125 ms (p=0.001) and the distance covered during the 6-minute walk test increased from 1,148+/-277 to 1,255+/-359 feet (p=0.042). Systolic blood pressure decreased from 139+/-15 to 119+/-10 mm Hg (p <0.0001). The following increases were noted in the heart rate variability measurements: high-frequency power in 0.15 to 0.40 Hz: 4.58+/-1.07 to 4.94+/-1.17 In (ms), p=0.002; SD: 47.0+/-16.9 to 52.5+/-18.4 ms, p=0.034; SD of the mean of all RR intervals in 24 hours: 116+/-94 to 130+/-19 ms, p=0.033; SD of all 5-minute mean RR intervals: 106+/-44 to 124+/-66 ms, p=0.042; root-mean square of difference of successive RR intervals: 28.8+/-10.7 to 34.1+/-14.2 ms, p=0.017. Clonidine improves heart rate variability in the patients with congestive heart failure by increasing the parasympathetic tone. It is well tolerated by most patients with heart failure and may have a beneficial effect on exercise capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...