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Separation of metal ion complex, [(C12H8N2)3Fe2+], with surfactant sodium dodecylphrate (DLS) complex from aqueous phase was carried out by solvent sublation, which obeys first-order kinetics. On the base of the complete transport mechanisms, the Langmuir adsorption, and the ion complex equilibrium in the aqueous phase, a mathematical model for the [(C12H8N2)3Fe2+]–surfactant ion complex is obtained with the aid of the Mathematic 4.0 program, 4th Runge–Kutta method, and the Matlab programs. The effects of many parameters, such as Ka, Kl, Kow, di, Vo, Vw, and Qa, on solvent sublation are investigated. Furthermore, the simulation showed that the model is substantiated for experiments on the solvent sublation of the complex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the plight of the Chinese white dolphin, Sousa chinensis, and its implication for environmental policy making in Hong Kong. Trade-offs between environmental protection and economic development; Focus on the environmental effects of the development of Chek Lap Kok airport; Assessment of environmental policy process.

Introduction: Most quality of care studies that have analyzed administrative databases have only been able to examine inpatient mortality—which may be a limitation for procedures whose inpatient mortality rates are low. In response, some researchers have examined longer term mortality outcomes (e.g. 30-day), but the available databases only pertain to non-representative segments of the population (i.e. Medicare patients, or Veterans), or cancer registries. In this study, we use a newly developed database to examine the 1-year mortality rates for two vascular surgery procedures. Importantly, the data is population-based, and therefore generalizable. Methods: The OSHPD database (1995–1999), which reports all California inpatient discharges, was linked to the State Death File in order to study mortality outcomes beyond hospital discharge. CEA and AAA procedures were identified by ICD-9 codes and the rates of inpatient and 1-year mortality were assessed. Analyses were performed for each procedure, as well as for elective and emergent cases. Results: For all CEA procedures (n = 44601), the inpatient and 1-year mortality rates were 0.8% and 5.8%, respectively. For emergent cases, the inpatient and 1-year mortality rates were 1.57% and 9.19% (which represents a 5.8-fold increase), while that for elective cases were 0.5% and 5.4% (a 9.7-fold increase). Finally, the CEA inpatient mortality rate for all patients accounts for only 14% of all CEA deaths at 1 year. For all AAA procedures, (n = 16114), the inpatient and 1-year mortality rates were 12.8% and 18.8%. The inpatient and 1-year mortality rates for emergent cases were 28% and 37.1% (a 1.3-fold increase), while for elective cases, they were 4.5% and 9.7%, respectively (a 2.15-fold increase). Contrary to CEA procedures, the AAA inpatient mortality rate for all-comers accounts for 68% of the AAA deaths at 1 year. Conclusions: Our study uses a novel database linkage and reports inpatient and 1-year mortality rates for two common vascular surgical procedures (i.e. CEA and AAA). This analysis provides meaningful data because of the ability to examine outcomes beyond hospital discharge. Future studies will examine the longer-term mortality rates of other common surgical procedures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To identify important prognostic factors and optimized treatment strategies through the analysis of the clinical and pathological characteristics of placental site trophoblastic tumor. Methods 108 patients with PSTT registered in two GTD centers or in six tertiary hospitals in China were analyzed retrospectively between the years 1998 and 2013. The computerized database of clinical and pathological reports was reviewed on this patient group. The data were subsequently analyzed retrospectively using SPSS software. Results Among 3581 patients with GTNs treated in GTD centers or in the tertiary hospitals between 1998 and 2013, 108 cases were histologically confirmed PSTT (3%). Only seven deaths and eleven relapse cases were observed. All seven of the deaths were disease related, due to chemotherapy-resistant or relapsed. 23 patients who received fertility preservation treatment did not experience poor outcome or high risk of relapse. In 71 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I disease, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery (n = 49) or not (n = 22) made no significant difference in relapse rate (P = 0.303) or survival (P = 0.782). Univariate analysis revealed the interval between antecedent pregnancy and onset of PSTT, stage, prognosis score, and necrosis as significant predictors of poor survival but only stage remained significant on multivariate analysis. Conclusions Patients with FIGO stage IV disease demonstrate the most critical risk indicator of PSTT in the current study. Preservation of fertility is considered in highly-selected patients with localized tumor; and surgery without chemotherapy is recommended as first line treatment for patients with stage I who are at low-risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The overarching goal of the National Cancer Institute is to eliminate death and suffering from all cancers in the next 15 years. Longitudinal analyses of population-based cancer registries allow for meaningful comparisons of epidemiology and survival-related outcomes. In order to assess the quality of US cancer care, this study uses 2 complimentary population-based datasets to report the epidemiology and outcomes of nine surgery-related cancers over the past 3 decades. Methods: Using the SEER cancer database (1973–1999), all patients (>18 y/o) diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of esophagus, stomach, biliary duct, pancreas, small bowel, colon, rectum; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESC), and hepatocellular (HCC) carcinoma (n = 382,032) were analyzed. Changes in incidence rates, stage at presentation (local, regional, distant), and 5-year cancer and stage-specific survivals were determined. The OSHPD database (1990–2000), which reports California inpatient discharges, was concurrently used to evaluate inpatient mortality after surgical resection for each cancer (n = 34,057). Results: Incidence rates increased for 3 cancers (esophageal, HCC, small bowel); decreased for 3 (rectal, stomach, ESC); and stayed constant for 3 (biliary, pancreatic, colon). More patients presented with local/regional disease in the 1990s (compared to 1970s) for 8 tumors (except small bowel, p < 0.05). Five-year overall survival improved for all but small bowel (p < 0.05); and survival for local stage tumors was improved for all cancer types except small bowel and biliary (p < 0.05). Finally, inpatient mortality rates, which can be a proxy for surgical quality and safety, declined significantly for liver, esophageal, pancreatic, and gastric resections (p < 0.05) over the past decade. Conclusions: This report card evaluates longitudinal trends in epidemiology and outcomes for 9 surgery-related cancers and identifies where improvements have been made. Not only does it appear that we are detecting tumors at an earlier and more treatable stage, but also that therapies have become more effective and safe over the past 3 decades. While these findings are encouraging, it highlights the importance of examining longitudinal trends for evaluating outcomes and areas for further study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: While it is generally believed that young patients with rectal cancer may have worse overall and stage-specific survival, no comprehensive analysis has been reported. Nearly all studies to date have reported the experiences of single institutions and may not be representative of the population. This study uses a national level population-based cancer registry to compare rectal cancer outcomes between the young versus older population. Methods: All patients with rectal carcinoma in the SEER cancer database from 1991–1999 were evaluated. A young group (20–40 y/o, n = 466) and an older group (60–80 y/o, n = 11,312) were compared for patient and tumor characteristics, patterns of treatment, and 5-year overall and stage-specific survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to predict hazard ratios for death. Results: Mean ages for the groups were 34.1 and 70.0 years; 60% were male (in both groups). The young group was comprised of fewer white, more black, and more Hispanic patients as compared to the older group (p < 0.001). Young patients presented with less stage I disease (17% vs. 23.7%, p < 0.001), and more stage III (27% vs. 20%, p < 0.001) and stage IV disease (17% vs. 13%, p < 0.02). The younger group also had worse grade tumors (poorly differentiated, 31% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). While 85% of both groups received surgical treatment, a significantly higher proportion of younger patients received appropriate stage-related radiation treatment (p < 0.001). Importantly, while the overall 5-year survival was significantly worse for the young group, no differences in stage-specific 5-year survival rates were identified between the young as compare to the older group (Table 1). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that young rectal cancer patients have poorer overall survival, but equivalent stage-for-stage survival. The observed difference in overall survival is likely due to the finding that younger patients present with more advanced stage disease. Future studies should continue to use data that is representative of the population when performing these types of epidemiologic and outcomes-related analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]