Effects of Long-Term Intake of DDT on Rats

DDT is a pesticide used in malaria-control programmes throughout the world. Its potential carcinogenicity was studied in MRC Porton rats (Wistar-derived) which received dietary concentrations of 0, 125, 250 and 500 parts per million DDT (technical-grade) for life. The treatment had no adverse effects on body growth or survival rate. Various types of tumours were observed in animals in all groups: exposure to DDT resulted in statistically significant increased incidence of liver-cell tumours only in female treated rats; one such tumour was observed in control rats. No metastases of these tumours were found.

Lack of Carcinogenicity of DDT in Hamsters

Syrian golden hamsters were fed for their lifespan a diet containing 0, 125, 250 and 500 parts per million (ppm) of DDT. The incidence of tumour bearing animals was 13 % among control females and ranged between 11-20 % in treated females. In control males 8 % had tumours. The incidence of tumour bearing animals among treated males ranged between 17-28 %. The incidence of adrenal cortex tumours showed a dose-related increase among the DDT-treated males. A liver-cell tumour and 2 liver hemangioendotheliomas were observed in 3 males treated with 250 ppm DDT. No liver-cell tumours were observed in the controls. No significant difference in tumour incidence was observed in treated versus control Syrian golden hamsters.

Automatic Speech Recognition in Vitreo-Retinal Surgery. A Project for a Prototypal Computer-Based Voice-Controlled Vitrectomy Machine

In the past half decade automatic speech recognition techniques, software and hardware technology have matured enough to support sophisticated medical applications. The project described aimed at introducing a computer-based, voice-controlled prototype system in a simulated vitreo-retinal surgery scenario. The aim was to provide the surgeon with a tool that could significantly improve the quality and ease of work and shorten the duration of intervention. The speech recognition system allows voice entry of simple commands to simulate surgical instrument control, including the infusion pump, vitreous cutter and diathermy. The project relies on a Markov-based, speaker-dependent, commercial isolated-word recognizer, and consists of a specific recognition vocabulary and application software, created and developed by the authors. Results have been encouraging. The system performed well under the test conditions, proving robust, simple to use and accurate (over 97% average word recognition rate). On the basis of their experience, the authors believe that automatic speech recognition technology, though suffering from some limitations such as the need for training, speaker dependence and a relatively small vocabulary, and requiring extensive testing under operating conditions, merits further development and opens new perspectives for a possible new generation of surgical instruments.

Carcinogenicity Study of 3-(5-Nitro-2-Furyl)-Imidazo(1,2-α) Pyridine in Mice and Rats

3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-imidazo(1,2-α)pyridine was tested for carcinogenicity by long-term administration in the diet to CTM mice at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 % dose levels and to Wistar rats at 0.2 and 0.4 % dose levels, and by short-term intraperitoneal injections to suckling BALB/c mice. The compound was a strong carcinogen. In CTM mice it induced carcinomas of the esophagus and forestomach at all dose levels and thymic lymphosarcomas at the two highest doses. In male and female rats, esophagus and forestomach papillomas were observed at all dose levels, whereas esophagus and forestomach carcinomas and kidney tumors were observed only at the high dose. In female rats, an increased incidence of mammary tumors was seen at the high dose. The treatment of BALB/c suckling mice by intraperitoneal injections did not induce a clear carcinogenic response.

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.