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Using electrochemical deposition, Ni–P nanorod arrays with a series of aspect ratios have been successfully fabricated in the pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. The aspect ratio of Ni–P nanorods was controlled by the deposition time. The morphologies were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The dependence of the optical absorbance upon the aspect ratio was studied by UV–vis spectra. The results show that the absorbance increases in visible region and decreases rapidly in ultraviolet region as the aspect ratio of nanorods increases, which qualitatively agree with the prediction of Maxwell–Garnett (MG) theory and the simulation based on the Mie scattering theory, respectively. The dependence of photoluminescence emission (PL) spectra upon the aspect ratio is also obtained. These investigations show that the optical properties of nano-array composite structure can be modified by changing the aspect ratio of nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) as first-line treatment in Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC). Furthermore, we aimed to explore whether a maintenance therapy with oral capecitabine in patients who were non-progression to the XELOX regimen was able to improve the duration of disease control (DDC). One hundred twenty-four patients with mCRC received a 3-weekly regimen of oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) as first-line treatment. Patients without progressive disease after six cycles of XELOX could stop treatment or continue to receive oral capecitabine until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. A total of 637 cycles (median 6 cycles) of XELOX were given to 124 patients (males 58.1%, median age 52 years). The response rate was 49.1% (complete response in 11 patients and partial response in 50 patients). The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 20.0 and 8.0 months, respectively. Main drug-related grade 3–4 toxicities included neutrapenia (5.6%), nausea/vomiting (4%), thrombocytopenia (2.4%), diarrhea (2.4%) and hand–foot syndrome (2.4%). Among 62 patients achieving objective response or stable disease after at least 6 cycles of XELOX, there were 22 patients received oral capecitabine as maintenance therapy. The median DDC was significantly longer for maintenance therapy group than those of no maintenance group (14 vs. 9 months; P = 0.041). XELOX is a highly effective first-line treatment for Chinese mCRC patients. The response rate, TTP, and overall survival of patients treated with this regimen are similar to those treated with FU/leucovorin/oxaliplatin. Furthermore, our preliminary data show maintenance therapy with capecitabine for those patients without progressive disease after at least six cycles of XELOX can significantly improve DDC; and further prospective randomized control trial is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni–P/AAO nano-array composite structure assemblies with Ni and P grown in the pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes were prepared by electroless deposition. The results of SEM, TEM and SAED show that as-deposited Ni–P nanowires have an amorphous structure and a few nanocrystallites form after annealing. The optical absorption spectra reveal that, as the annealing temperature increases, the absorption band edge of the Ni–P/AAO composite structure is obviously blue shifted, which is attributed to a decrease of the internal pressure after heat treatment. Meanwhile, the annealed Ni–P/AAO nano-array composite structure exhibits the absorption behavior of a direct band gap semiconductor. Details of this behavior are discussed together with the implications for potential device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) is widely used in the management of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, catheters and pumps are necessary for the continuous infusion of 5-Fu, which add to the cost, immobility and inconvenience of treatment. Capecitabine, an oral fluoropyrimidine, is a potentially more active and more convenient substitute to 5-Fu. A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a capecitabine and cisplatin combination in metastatic NPC. In the multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase II study, patients with metastatic NPC who previously received no palliative chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients received oral capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2 twice daily from day 1 to 14) and intravenous cisplatin (80 mg/m2, day1) every 3 weeks. A total of 48 patients were enrolled and included in the intention-to-treat analysis of efficacy and adverse events. There were 3 patients (6.3%) with complete response and 27 patients (56.3%) with partial response, giving an overall response rate of 62.5% (95% CI, 49.1–76.4%). The median duration of response in the 30 responding patients was 7.5 months (range 1.4–22.4 months). With a median follow-up period of 13.3 months (range 2.3–50 months), the median time to progression and median overall survival for all patients were 7.7 months (95% CI, 6.3–9.2 months) and 13.3 months (95% CI, 9.4–17.2 months), respectively. Toxicities were moderate and manageable. Grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (14.6%), anemia (4.2%) and thromocytopenia (2.1%), nausea (8.3%), vomiting (10.4%), diarrhea (8.3%), stomatitis (6.3%) and hand–foot syndrome (HFS) (4.2%). The combination of capecitabine and cisplatin is active and well tolerated as a first-line therapy for patients with metastatic NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rituximab-containing regimen for lymphoma, the role of lamivudine therapy has not been well established. Therefore, in this nonrandomized phase II clinical study, hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with B-cell lymphoma who received rituximab-containing regimen were treated with oral administration of lamivudine. The incidence and severity of hepatitis along with other adverse clinical outcomes were analyzed. Between January 2003 and March 2006, 29 consecutive patients were enrolled. Four of the 29 patients (13.8%) developed hepatitis during chemotherapy, none of which was attributed to HBV reactivation. According to WHO acute toxicity assessment criteria, the severity of hepatitis was grade I in two patients (6.9%) and grade II in two patients (6.9%). In these four patients, only one (3.5%) had interval delay in chemotherapy. No patient had total abnormal bilirubin. No patient had died as the result of hepatitis during the treatment. Interestingly, one of the 29 patients developed HBV activation 5.1 months after the withdrawal of lamivudine. This patient recovered after reinstallation of lamivudine therapy and is still alive. Consequently, our study confirmed previous reports that prophylactic lamivudine therapy can prevent HBV reactivation in HBV carriers who were receiving rituximab-containing regimen for lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]