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Abstract: Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer stage at diagnosis and survival are important public health issues. This study investigates the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and colorectal cancer (CRC) stage at diagnosis and survival in Switzerland, a European country with highest level of medical facilities and life expectancy. We used population‐based CRC data from seven Swiss cantonal cancer registries 2001–2008 (N = 10,088) linked to the Swiss National Cohort (SNC). Follow‐up information was available until the end of 2013. SEP was estimated based on education. The association between cancer stage and SEP was assessed using logistic regression models including cancer localization (colon/rectum), sex, age, civil status, urbanity of residence, language region, and nationality (Swiss/non‐Swiss). Survival was analyzed using competing risk regressions reporting subhazard ratios (SHRs) for the risk of dying due to CRC. We observed a social gradient for later stage CRC with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 1.11 (95% CI: 0.97–1.19) and 1.28 (95% CI: 1.08–1.50) for middle and low SEP compared to high SEP. Further, single compared to married people had elevated odds of being diagnosed at later stages. Survival was lower in patients with CRC with low SEP in the unadjusted model (SHR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07–1.30). After adjustment for stage at diagnosis and further sociodemographic characteristics, significant survival inequalities by SEP disappeared but remained for non‐Swiss compared to Swiss citizens and for patients living in nonurban areas compared to their urban counterparts. Swiss public health strategies should facilitate equal access to CRC screening and optimal CRC care for all social groups and in all regions of Switzerland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the synthesis of a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent pH probe with a remarkable Stokes shift (∼135 nm) based on a tricarbocyanine (Cy-PIP). The fluorescent molecule was anchored to SiO2 nanoparticles (Cy-PIP@SiO2) and is capable of monitoring pH changes within the physiological range (pH 6–8). The Cy-PIP@SiO2 nanoparticles were successfully internalized by HeLa cells as shown by fluorescence confocal microscopy, while flow cytometry revealed pH fluctuations during the endocytic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Assessing the quality of cancer care (QoCC) has become increasingly important to providers, regulators and purchasers of care worldwide. The aim of this study was to develop evidence-based quality indicators (QIs) for colorectal cancer (CRC) to be applied in a population-based setting. Design: A comprehensive evidence-based literature search was performed to identify the initial list of QIs, which were then selected and developed using a two- step-modified Delphi process involving two multidisciplinary expert panels with expertise in CRC care, quality of care and epidemiology. Setting: The QIs of the clinical cancer care (QC3) population-based project, which involves all the public and private hospitals and clinics present on the territory of Canton Ticino (South Switzerland). Participants: Ticino Cancer Registry, The Colorectal Cancer Working Group (CRC-WG) and the external academic Advisory Board (AB). Main outcome measures: Set of QIs which encompass the whole diagnostic-treatment process of CRC. Results: Of the 149 QIs that emerged from 181 sources of literature, 104 were selected during the in-person meeting of CRC-WG. During the Delphi process, CRC-WG shortened the list to 89 QI. AB finally validated 27 QIs according to the phase of care: diagnosis (N=6), pathology (N=3), treatment (N=16) and outcome (N=2). Conclusions: Using the validated Delphi methodology, including a literature review of the evidence and integration of expert opinions from local clinicians and international experts, we were able to develop a list of QIs to assess QoCC for CRC. This will hopefully guarantee feasibility of data retrieval, as well as acceptance and translation of QIs into the daily clinical practice to improve QoCC. Moreover, evidence-based selected QIs allow one to assess immediate changes and improvements in the diagnostic-therapeutic process that could be translated into a short-term benefit for patients with a possible gain both in overall and disease-free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Galactofuranose metabolism is a good target for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of some microbial infections. A simple procedure for the synthesis of methyl (methyl α,β-d-galactopyranosid)uronate followed by NaB3H4 reduction gave a straightforward access to radiolabeled substrates for galactofuranosidases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We propose an accurate and efficient method to compute vibrational spectra of molecules, based on exact diagonalization of an algebraically calculated matrix based on powers of Morse coordinate. The present work focuses on the 1D potential of diatomic molecules: as typical examples, we apply this method to the standard Lennard-Jones oscillator, and to the ab initio potential of the H2 molecule. Global cm-1 accuracy is exhibited through the H2 spectrum, obtained through the diagonalization of a 30 × 30 matrix. This theory is at the root of a new method to obtain globally accurate vibrational spectral data in the context of the multi-dimensional potential of polyatomic molecules, at an affordable computational cost. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following publication of the original article [1], an error was reported in the author group. The correct author group should read as follows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of strontium (Sr) in titania enhances surface bioactivity and has a positive effect on pre‐osteoblastic cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. Strontium titanate mesoporous films (SrTiMFs) with 30% pore volume and a 20% Sr molar content have been prepared by the evaporation induced self‐assembly method. SrTiMFs display a large internal surface area available for exchange of Sr, which is released in cell media up to 44% within the first 8 h. SrTiMFs improve attachment of MC3T3‐E1 pre‐osteoblastic cells, which show larger filopodia and more elongated features than cells attached to plain mesoporous titania films (MTFs). SrTiMFs also display improved cell proliferation and differentiation rates indicating that overall Sr incorporation into mesoporous titania coatings can lead to enhanced osseointegration during the early stages of bone tissue formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Antarctica (WA) has the second largest ice mass loss in the world, with the potential to trigger animportant interaction with the solid Earth as observed in Amundsen Sea Embayment (ASE). There, the largemass loss is exciting a large and fast movement of the bedrock allowing us to geodynamically constrain alow viscosity in the mantle beneath. Seismic tomography and gravimetry find thermal anomalies underneathASE and even hotter areas elsewhere below WA, and recent studies suggest a plume below Marie ByrdLand (MBL). It is therefore natural to wonder if other areas in WA are characterized by low viscosity.However hot mantle does not necessarily imply low viscosity. And the geodynamic response of the Earthrequires a significantly large mass loss in order to produce measurable mantle and bedrock movement.In WA, the mass loss outside ASE is relatively small, and the GPS velocities are also quite small withrelatively large errors almost everywhere, and previous studies attributed those small velocities to the GIAcaused by the Holocene deglaciation. In addition, the elastic velocity signal produced by the ice masschanges is comparable with the observed GPS signal, leaving small room for an additional signal comingfrom low viscosity mantle displacement triggered by recent ice changes.Nonetheless, by using low viscosity Earth models we are able to assess whether the relatively small icemass loss in other areas (e.g. MBL and Bellingshausen Sea coast) could trigger a visible GPS signal. Toimprove the accuracy of our analysis we use for the first time high resolution monthly ice mass changes tocompute the time series of the Earth response to be analysed together with the GPS time series instead ofthe GPS velocity. In this way we can avoid the errors in the trend due to the variability in the time series.We find that even small ice changes could trigger measurable low viscosity GIA signal, and based on this weshow the modelled displacements assuming low viscosity mantle in regions nearby ASE and the comparisonwith the observed GPS time series. From this preliminary analysis it appears that the elastic time series hasa good correlation with the observed GPS time series, with not much room for a viscoelastic signal in theareas under study except for ASE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]