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The aim of this paper is to present a one-year performance analysis of four grid-connected PV systems installed at Ghardaia city in Algeria's Sahara. The grid-connected PV systems are based on four different PV module technologies which are: monocrystalline silicon (m-Si), multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si), cadmium telluride (Cd-Te) and amorphous (a-Si) PV module technologies. The PV systems based on the thin film technologies have their performance ratio better throughout the year when the performance ratio of the mc-Si technology is better in the winter season. The a-Si PV system has its performance ratio about 6.13 % more better than mc-Si and 8.90 % better than m-Si. The AC energy produced with the a-Si PV system is 13.32 % more than what the mc-Si system produces. It was found that the a-Si PV system performs better than the other technologies under the Saharan climate conditions of Ghardaia city. The energy payback time (EPBT) and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of the different PV systems were analyzed. The EPBT and GHG emissions per year, vary from a minimum value of 2.8 years to a maximum value of 5.73 years and from 13.24 tons to 32.03 tons of CO2/kWh for CdTe and m-Si respectively. The CdTe PV system performs better in terms of EPBT and GHG emissions compared to the other technologies (m-Si, mc-Si and a-Si) due to its low life cycle energy requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is an incurable disease. The goal of treatment is mainly palliative to improve quality of life by the control of disease (in terms of disease free survival [DFS]) as long as possible, and to treat symptoms with fewer side effects. The gene c-erb B2 or neu or HER2 is amplified in 20-25% of breast cancers. This amplification is associated with a more aggressive disease and a poor prognosis. Patients, carrying a HER2-positive MBC, benefit from new therapies targeting the HER2 receptor. These treatments have shown their efficacy as single agent, and have a synergistic effect with chemotherapy. There is a more toxicity profile in comparison with that of chemotherapy. In first line metastatic disease, treatment should include a combination based on trastuzumab and chemotherapy. After disease progression with trastuzumab-based therapy, rechallenging Trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy is a reasonable option. After a second progression with trastuzumab, a combination based on lapatinib plus Capecitabine (or other chemotherapy if Capecitabine was previously used) should be proposed; the combination based on lapatinib and trastuzumab is reasonable. Inclusion in clinical trials must continue to improve outcomes for our patients., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: The HER2 gene or c-erb B2 or neu is amplified in 15-25% of breast cancers. This amplification is associated with an aggressive course of disease. The trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the extracellular domain of HER2. This is the first targeted molecule designed to treat breast cancer. In the firstline metastatic disease, trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy significantly improved survival of patients with HER2-positive disease. In the adjuvant setting, trastuzumab has been evaluated in several randomized trials., Objective: The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Trastuzumab in the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer., Methods: A search of articles published in English literature, between 1987 (date of establishment of prognostic value of HER2) and November 2012, was conducted on Medline and in the database of the main international congress using the following terms: "breast cancer", "HER2-positive", "adjuvant therapy" and "Trastuzumab"., Results: We identified seven randomized phase 3 trial evaluating trastuzumab in the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive. The trastuzumab was administered weekly or every 3weeks. Its administration with concomitant taxane chemotherapy and with concurrent radiotherapy was preferred. Four randomized trials have clearly confirmed the benefit of trastuzumab, two positive in overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS), and two positive in PFS. The duration of trastuzumab for 1year was the most effective. The trastuzumab was well tolerated. The most significant toxicity, associated with trastuzumab, was cardiac toxicity. However, it is found in only 5% or less of cases, and it is severe in only 2% or less of cases, and most patients recovered their cardiac function by medical treatment alone., Conclusion: In the contemporary medical literature, several strong arguments confirm the benefit in survival of trastuzumab administered concomitantly with a taxane-based chemotherapy and with concurrent radiotherapy, and for a period of 1year. Trastuzumab was well tolerated. Only 2% or less of patients experienced a serious cardiac toxicity, but it was reversible in most of the time., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)