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CO 2 is the standard for medium to large-sized commercial applications, as it combines security and low environmental impact. However, it requires the use of advanced and complex cycles. Recently, CO 2 -doping (the addition of a small quantity of another fluid) has attracted scientific attention, as when CO 2 is mixed with fluids with higher critical temperatures, the optimum operation moves to subcritical, providing COP increments in relation to pure-CO 2 operation. This work, from a theoretical perspective, evaluates CO 2 -doping with the fluids R-152a, R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E) and R-1233zd(E) considering the two most used CO 2 cycles: the base cycle with an internal heat exchanger (IHX) and the cycle with parallel compression (PC), fractionation taking place. The work analyses the COP improvements for an evaporating level of -10 °C and from 10 to 40 °C of environment temperature. Predicted maximum COP increments reach up to 5.8% for the IHX cycle and 10.0% for the PC cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HFSRT) has become a standard of care for patients with a limited number of brain metastases (BM). An increasing number of linear accelerators (LA) are able to accurately perform HFSRT including VersaHD® (Elekta®) LA. The main aim of this study was to report clinical outcomes of BM treated by HFSRT using 3 × 7.7 Gy on 70% isodose line in terms of local control (LC). Between November 2016 and October 2018, all patients suffering from histologically-proven primary with one or several newly diagnosed BM treated by HFSRT were retrospectively included and evaluated. Patients who had received prior treatment by neurosurgery or cerebral radiotherapy were excluded. Among 44 patients, 61 BM were treated. With a median follow-up of 31.9 months, LC rates at 6 and 12 months were 93.2% and 90.9, respectively. Single-BM was independently predictive of LC (P = 0.025) and overall survival (P = 0.013). Acute toxicity rates were acceptable: 65.9% of patients had grade 1 and 2 and no acute grade 3 toxicity according to the NCI-CTCAE (version 5.0). Regarding delayed toxicity, one case (2.3%) of radionecrosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In our single-centre retrospective analysis, BM treatment by HFSRT delivered in three fractions showed a 12-month LC rate of 90.9% without major toxicities, which suggests safety and efficiency of this technique. However, longer-term follow-up and prospective studies are still needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les cancers des voies aérodigestives supérieures correspondent à un ensemble de maladies variées, pour lesquelles les volumes de traitement et la dose prescrite sont à individualiser en fonction de chaque patient. L'objectif de cet article est de passer en revue les principaux facteurs décisionnels concernant la définition des volumes cibles, la prescription de la dose, ainsi que les voies de recherche en cours d'exploration. Les recommandations de délinéation, les doses prescrites, l'utilisation de modifications de fractionnement, les principaux facteurs pronostiques, la place des papillomavirus humains et l'apport de l'imagerie moléculaire sont successivement évoqués. Head and neck cancers comprise a variety of tumours depending on the sub-site, for which target volumes and the prescribed doses need to be individualized according to each patient's history and presentation. This article aims at describing the main factors involved in decision-making regarding dose and volume, as well as ongoing research. Contouring and treatment guidelines, use of altered fractionation, major prognostic factors, the role of Human papillomavirus and of functional imaging will be presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En 1999, Brenner et Hall ont calculé pour le cancer prostatique un rapport alpha/bêta très bas de 1,5 Gy. Cette valeur a été confirmée dans les années qui ont suivi par de nombreuses études. Ce qui est alors devenu une sorte de « dogme » est à la base de très nombreux protocoles d'hypofractionnement, puisque cette valeur très basse du rapport alpha/bêta suggérait un effet bénéfique de l'hypofractionnement pour le cancer prostatique. Moyennant quoi, dans les années qui ont suivi, un certain nombre d'interrogations sont apparues : tout d'abord, plusieurs auteurs ont publié à partir de leurs données des rapports alpha/bêta plus élevés que le « dogme ». Ensuite, les trois essais modernes dits « de supériorité » n'ont pas montré de supériorité des bras hypofractionnés, malgré des doses équivalentes théoriques (calculées avec un rapport alpha/bêta de 1,5 Gy) atteignant 84 à 90 Gy. En 2018, trois revues générales et métanalyses, incluant plusieurs milliers de patients, ont amené à reconsidérer la valeur exacte du rapport alpha/bêta du cancer prostatique, en particulier – ̲mais pas seulement – parce que l'on a pris conscience que l'introduction d'un « facteur temps » (pour la repopulation) jouait un rôle important, qui avait été négligé jusqu'ici, dans l'évaluation du rapport alpha/bêta Dans ces trois études, le rapport alpha/bêta variait de 2,7 Gy à 4,9 Gy. Cela confirme certes une nette sensibilité du cancer prostatique à la variation de la dose par fraction, mais moins importante que celle suggérée par le « dogme » du rapport alpha/bêta très bas de 1,5 Gy. In 1999, Brenner and Hall reported for prostate cancer a very low alpha/beta ratio (1.5 Gy). In the following years, this value has been confirmed by a large series of papers, so that this very low alpha/beta ratio became a "dogma", on which a large number of hypofractionated schemes were being built. This was logical, since this very low value strongly suggested a beneficial advantage of hypofractionation for prostate cancer. However, more recently, several questions arose; first, a number of authors reported, from the analysis of their own data, values of alpha/beta ratio which were higher than the "dogma". Secondly, the three modern "superiority trials", aiming at demonstrating the advantages of hypofractionated schemes, actually failed to show such a superiority, in spite of high equivalent doses (calculated with an alpha/beta of 1.5 Gy), reaching up to 84 - 90 Gy. In 2018, three review papers/metanalyses shed a new light on what could be the value of the alpha/beta ratio for prostate cancer. In particular, those studies took into account a "time factor" (for repopulation), a parameter which had been either forgotten or underestimated before. In those three studies, the alpha/beta ratio was ranging from 2.7 Gy to 4.9 Gy. Those data do confirm the sensitivity to the fraction dose variation of prostate cancer, but this sensitivity could be lower than suggested by an alpha/beta ratio of 1.5 Gy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement is the property of Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The French healthcare system is responsible for 8% of the national footprint. Achieving a net zero emissions scenario will require a 4-5 fold decrease of carbon emissions in the coming years. The carbon footprint of radiation therapy has not been specifically studied to date. In this review we summarize the content of the carbon footprint dedicated session at the annual meeting of the French society of radiation oncology (SFRO). We discuss the French healthcare system carbon footprint and its major drivers and our work on the estimation of the carbon footprint of external beam radiation therapy in the French setting. We developed a dedicated methodology to estimate the carbon footprint related to radiation therapies, and describe the main drivers of emissions based on a single centre as an example, namely patient's rides, accelerators acquisition and maintenance and data storage. Based on the carbon footprint calculated in our centres, we propose mitigation strategies and an estimation of their respective potential. Our results may be extrapolated to other occidental settings by adapting emission factors (kilograms of carbon per item or euro) to other national settings. External beam radiation therapy has a major carbon footprint that may be mitigated in many ways that may impact how radiation therapy treatments are delivered, as well as the national organization of the radiotherapy sector. This needs to be taken into account when thinking about the future of radiotherapy., (Copyright © 2023 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Les matériaux à base de fibres végétales techniques (lin et chanvre) sont une réalité depuis plusieurs années. Une étude récente de FranceAgriMer (Thonier et Bono, 2015) montre que leur développement est une réalité tout particulièrement dans le domaine du bâtiment (isolation, panneaux de particules, bétons), du transport (plasturgie, composite) et plus récemment des sports et loisirs et du luxe. Ces développements permettent de valoriser les propriétés différenciantes du lin fibre et du chanvre en matière de performance mécanique, de légèreté, d’amortissement des vibrations, d’isolation thermique ou phonique, d’absorption/désorption ou de bilan écologique. La poursuite de leur déploiement repose sur la capacité de nos filières à lever les principaux verrous technologiques encore à l’œuvre, à savoir : (1) amélioration des performances mécaniques par le fractionnement, (2) apport de nouvelles fonctions que le végétal n’a pas naturellement, (3) amélioration de la mise en œuvre des fractions en semi-produits et en matériaux, (4) maîtrise de la reproductibilité des performances. Elle repose également sur la capacité de l’ensemble des acteurs de ces filières à structurer des filières d’approvisionnement reconnues, permettant d’amener sur le marché une gamme complète de solutions (fibres, poudres, granulats, compounds, non-tissés, rovings, tissés), adaptées aux cahiers des charges clients, à un prix acceptable par tous les maillons de la chaîne de valeur. Une nouvelle économie est en train de naître.

The continuous world population growth induces a total protein demand increase based mainly on plant sources. To meet these global nutritional challenges, existing and innovative dry and wet fractionation processes will have to be combined to better valorise plant protein fraction from pulses and oilseeds. The worldwide success of soy protein isolates originate from the intrinsic qualities of soybean proteins but also from a continuous R&D effort since mid-twenty century. Therefore, the soy protein development model can be applied to protein isolates from diverse pulses and oilseeds meals as rapeseed which has already been recognised as novel food protein in Europe. To boost the delivery of plant proteins, agrofood-industries and academics must pool their respective expertise. Innovative and issue solving R&D projects have to be launched to better valorise pulses and oilseed proteins by (i) creating oil extraction processes which preserve native proteins structure; (ii) developing novel protein extraction processes from lab up to industrial pilot scale; (iii) producing plant protein isolates having comparable foaming, emulsifying or gelling functionality than animal; and (iv) generating hydrolysed proteins with high digestibility adapted to human nutrition. It is also essential to initiate research programs to innovate in wet and dry fractionations of plants or to design in vitro models to evaluate proteins digestibility and allergenicity. The increased awareness regarding plant protein valorisation resulted in the creation by agro-industries and academics of the open platform IMPR [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé L’effet du fractionnement de la dose d’irradiation est une question récurrente qui reste globalement irrésolue car aucun modèle ne permet aujourd’hui de déduire l’effet clinique par la seule donnée de la dose cumulée et des caractéristiques radiobiologiques des tissus irradiés. Cette question importante est abordée différemment en radioprotection, radiothérapie, radiologie ou épidémiologie. Une meilleure compréhension de la réponse moléculaire aux radiations rend aujourd’hui possible une approche nouvelle pour identifier les paramètres qui conditionnent l’effet du fractionnement. En particulier, l’intervalle de temps entre les doses apparaît comme un facteur essentiel puisqu’il permettra, ou non, la réparation de certains dommages radio-induits de l’ADN comme les dommages de bases, les cassures simple-brin ou les cassures double-brin dont les rythmes de réparation sont respectivement de l’ordre de la seconde, de la minute ou de l’heure : l’effet de fractionnement variera alors suivant les statuts fonctionnels de ces voies de réparation, que ce soit pour les tissus sains comme pour les tumeurs. The dose fractionation effect is a recurrent question of radiation biology research that remains unsolved since no model predicts the clinical effect only with the cumulated dose and the radiobiology of irradiated tissues. Such an important question is differentially answered in radioprotection, radiotherapy, radiology or epidemiology. A better understanding of the molecular response to radiation makes possible today a novel approach to identify the parameters that condition the fractionation effect. Particularly, the time between doses appears to be a key factor since it will permit, or not, the repair of certain radiation-induced DNA damages whose repair rates are of the order of seconds, minutes or hours: the fractionation effect will therefore vary according to the functionality of the different repair pathways, whatever for tumor or normal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé La radiothérapie antalgique des métastases osseuses de première intention est un traitement efficace quel que soit le fractionnement (traitement non ou plurifractionné). La radiothérapie peut également être proposée en cas d’échec ou d’efficacité insuffisante d’une première irradiation (après avoir éliminé une fracture) ou l’apparition de nouveaux sites douloureux. Les autres indications sont les compressions médullaires après la chirurgie ou exclusivement, et les irradiations après chirurgie pour métastase des os longs. Le développement de la radiothérapie de haute précision (en conditions stéréotaxiques) augmente les possibilités de réirradiation lorsque les doses maximales admissibles par les tissus sains ont été atteintes. Elle cherche à améliorer la probabilité de contrôle local, voire celle de survie, en cas de maladie oligométastatique. First-line palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases is an effective treatment whatever its fractionation (single or multiple fractions). It is also indicated after failure or insufficient effect of a first irradiation, or the appearance of new painful site. Other indications are spinal cord compression, either as an adjuvant to surgery or as sole treatment, and after surgery for long bone metastases. The development of high precision techniques (stereotactic conditions) widens the possibility of re-irradiation when tolerance doses to normal tissues have already been delivered. Local control and possibly overall survival could be improved in oligometastatic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'effet de l'azote pendant l'irradiation de pupes de Glossina tachinoides ainsi que le fractionnement des doses d'irradiation, ont été étudiés au milieu de la phase pupale. L'effet protecteur de l'azote contre des irradiations de 10 à 80 Gy de pupes âgées de 15 à 20 jours a été démontré par l'accroissement du taux global d'éclosion, par des niveaux plus élevés de fertilité résiduelle chez les mâles et par des durées de vie plus longues. La stérilité des màles traités par doses fractionnées séparées par 1 ou 2 jours a été identique à celle des mâles traités par une dose unique au 15e j après larviposition ; mais le taux de mutations létales induites était diminué pour des doses fractionnées séparées par un intervalle de 5 jours. La fécondité des femelles a été réduite lors du fractionnement de la dose d'irradiation à intervalle de 1 et 2 jours. Une stérilité complète a été obtenue chez les pupes femelles lorsque l'intervalle entre les doses fractionnées était de 5 jours, indépendamment de la dose utilisée.

Copyright of Cahiers des Amériques Latines is the property of Institut des Hautes Etudes de l'Amerique Latine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Résumé: L’hypofractionnement en radiothérapie n’est pas une idée neuve. L’utilisation d’un nombre réduit de fortes doses par séances a été proposée dès les tout débuts de notre spécialité. Ensuite, à plusieurs reprises, l’hypofractionnement s’est vu proposé sur la base de concepts radiobiologiques successifs, dont certains ont fait long feu. La nominal single dose (NSD) de sinistre mémoire, sous-estimait de façon majeure, dans les années 1970, la toxicité des fortes doses par fraction ; elle a été directement responsable d’une augmentation très significative tout à la fois de l’incidence et de la gravité de complications tardives de la radiothérapie. Le modèle linéaire-quadratique est heureusement venu corriger le tir, mais il n’est pas dénué de limites, en particulier pour les faibles et les fortes doses par fraction, limites que l’on tend à oublier à l’heure actuelle. Depuis plus d’une décennie, le cancer de prostate est au cœur de discussions concernant sa sensibilité au fractionnement ; de nombreux travaux biologiques et cliniques suggèrent un rapport alpha/bêta bas pour ce cancer, mais les données disponibles ne permettent pas de trancher entre un rapport alpha/bêta ű très bas Ƈ (1,5 Gy), qui impliquerait un avantage pour l’hypofractionnement en termes de contrôle tumoral, et un rapport alpha/bêta simplement ű bas Ƈ (de l’ordre de 3 à 4 Gy), qui ne permettrait ű que Ƈ de réduire le nombre de séances avec une diminution de la dose totale, pour des résultats équivalents à ceux du schéma classique. Dans l’attente de données complémentaires qui ne nous arrivent qu’avec parcimonie, il convient de rester prudent en 2013 dans le maniement de l’hypofractionnement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: La radiothérapie occupe une place centrale dans la prise en charge des cancers de la prostate, mais l’étalement du traitement sur près de deux mois pose des problèmes de fatigue liée aux déplacements répétitifs, notamment pour les patients les plus âgés, mais aussi de coût global du traitement, incluant temps d’occupation de la machine et transport. Pour répondre à cette difficulté, différentes équipes ont développé des protocoles de radiothérapie hypofractionnée cherchant à maintenir une efficacité et une toxicité identiques tout en réduisant la durée totale du traitement. Ces protocoles hypofractionnés font appel aux techniques récentes de radiothérapie guidée par l’image et de radiothérapie conformationnelle avec modulation d’intensité (RCMI). L’analyse de séries monocentriques a validé la faisabilité d’un hypofractionnement ű léger Ƈ à des doses par fraction de moins de 6Gy. De même, différentes équipes ont montré la possibilité d’une irradiation stéréotaxique permettant de délivrer des protocoles de radiothérapie hypofractionnée ű sévère Ƈ à des doses de plus de 6Gy par fraction. Quelle que soit la dose par fraction, l’analyse des données actuelles permet de conclure qu’une radiothérapie hypofractionnée n’engendre pas de toxicité majorée à moyen terme et pourrait même améliorer le taux de contrôle biochimique. Des études ayant pour objectifs de démontrer une non infériorité sont attendues pour valider définitivement la place de l’irradiation hypofractionnée dans le traitement des cancers de la prostate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that the nutrient content of wheat distillers' grain and solubles (WDDGS) can be improved by fractionation in rainbow trout. It infroms that fractionation is carried out in sequential manner by using grinding, sieving and elutriation. The lutriation is fractionated further on the basis of particle shape and density.

Copyright of Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement is the property of Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Stable isotopes are powerful research tools in environmental sciences and their use in ecosystem research is increasing. Stable isotope measurements allow the study of evapotranspiration fluxes, soil evaporation and leaf transpiration phenomena. Soil water and leaf water are the sources of the evapotranspiration that transfers large quantities of water from land to the atmosphere; as a result the isotopic composition of water left in the leaves is modified towards enrichment. Evaporation also changes the isotopic composition of water bodies creating a natural isotopic signal. The isotopic identity of soil water affects the oxygen isotopic signature of leaf and stem water. In this paper we present the isotopic data of bulk leaf water, showing the enrichment in isotopic value of oxygen due to evapotranspiration from leaves in conjunction with the isotopic signal of rainwater and other environmental factors such as humidity and temperature. Results suggest that the variation in the values of δ18O of Eucalyptus citriodora, Dalbergia sissoo, Melia azedarach and Pinus roxburghii is due to the seasonal changes in the δ18O of the source water for plants, i. e. rain. It is further observed that leaf water δ18O values are depleted during the months of July, August and September. This occurs due to the following reasons: (a) the sampling areas receive about 50% of the average annual rain during these months, and (b) rainfalls during these months are isotopically depleted compared with winter rains. Citation Butt, S., Ali, M., Fazil, M. & Latif, Z. (2010) Seasonal variations in the isotopic composition of leaf and stem water from an arid region of Southeast Asia. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(5), 844-848. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé L’irradiation normofractionnée du sein après une chirurgie conservatrice est la référence de pratique. Elle consiste à délivrer une dose de 50 Gy en 25 fractions de 2 Gy dans le point de référence, et dans certains cas, une dose additionnelle de 16 Gy en 8 fractions de 2 Gy dans le lit tumoral. Plusieurs essais thérapeutiques et des méta-analyses, dans les cancers infiltrants comme dans les cancers intracanalaires, ont évalué les résultats et la toxicité à long terme de cette irradiation. Les taux de récidive intrammaire à 10 ans sont en moyenne de 6 %, avec une toxicité cardiaque, pulmonaire et des tissus mous (fibrose) qui reste très limitée avec les techniques modernes. L’identification des facteurs de risque à long terme peut contribuer à définir de nouveaux schémas de fractionnement adaptés à la biologie tumorale. Les nouveaux schémas d’irradiation doivent être évalués rigoureusement sur le long terme dans le cadre d’essais thérapeutique, pour qu’ils puissent constituer de nouveaux standards. Whole-breast normofractionated irradiation following breast-conserving surgery is the reference treatment. It delivers a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions of 2 Gy to the reference point, and, in some patients, an additional dose of 16 Gy in 8 fractions of 2 Gy in the tumor bed. Long-term results and toxicity of this irradiation scheme was prospectively evaluated in several randomised trials and meta-analyses, in invasive cancers as well as in ductal carcinoma in situ. The average 10-year rate of in breast recurrences was 6 % in these trials, with limited cardiac and pulmonary toxicity and limited rate of severe fibrosis. Identification of risk factors of recurrences may help to design new irradiation schemes adapted to tumor biology. The new irradiation schemes must be rigorously evaluated in the long-term in the frame of prospective clinical trials, in order to validate them as new standards of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Radiotherapy for bone metastases represents an important part of daily practice in our departments of radiotherapy. Majority of treatments deliver either one fraction (6 to 10Gy) or multifractions mainly using 30Gy in ten fractions. In the past decade, several randomized trials aimed to determine the optimal scheme of radiotherapy in this setting. In the present review, the efficacy of radiotherapy on bone metastases will be evaluated using the following parameters: the partial or complete responses on pain, the reduction of antalgic intake, bone recalcification, and need for reirradiation. Other parameters must also be considered, such as the primary site, number of metastasis, performance status, overall prognosis and side effects of radiotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of patients treated for soft tissue sarcoma using three different post-operative radiotherapy schedules. Methods and materials: Between 1990 and 2003, 89 patients (median age 50.8 years) presenting with soft tissue sarcoma (located to the limbs for 66 of them) underwent post-conservative–surgery radiotherapy. Pathology was liposarcoma in 35 cases and 54 others tumors. Tumors grades (FNCLCC classification) were 1, 2, 3 or unknown in 29, 32, 19 and 9 cases, respectively. Surgery was considered as complete in 68 patients. Irradiation was normofractionated (NF) in 62 cases, hyperfractionated (BF) in 19 cases and hypofractionated (HF) in 8 cases. For all the patients, median delivered dose was 61 Gy [34–76 Gy]. Results: Median follow-up of alive patients was 73,8 months [3–184]. Five-year local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) rates were 85.5 and 71.2% respectively. According to multifactorial analysis, favourable prognostic factors were for local control, complete surgery (P =0.0075) and for overall survival, complete surgery (P =0.0267), grade 1 tumor (P =0.012) and absence of distant recurrence (P =0.0488). There was no statistical evidence of difference for the five-year LC and OS rates between the patients who received NF, BF or HF. There were few complications and there were comparable in the three groups. Conclusions: This retrospective serie showed similar results for all the schedules. There is no evidence to recommend bifractionation. Hypofractionation should be used only in selected patients with poor performans status. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To study the clinical, radiological, therapeutic and progressive aspects of brain radionecrosis after treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Patients and methods: Nine patients (seven men and two women) of mean age 47.7 years old (extremes: 18–57 years old) were treated for UCNT (undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx) between 1989 and 2003 and developed cerebral radionecrosis. All patients were treated with radical radiotherapy. The mean total dose was 73.5 Gy (70–75 Gy). Dose per fraction was 2 to 2.5 Gy, one fraction daily. One patient received adjuvant brachytherapy to the dose of 8 Gy and four patients also received chemotherapy. Results: Brain radionecrosis was authenticated by brain imaging (CT scan±MRI): the imaging was ordered in seven cases to elucidate non-specific neurological signs and two cases were discovered fortuitously. The time to the appearance of neurological signs was 40.3 months (10 to 108 months). The localization was temporal in six cases, parieto-occipital (one case) and bulbomedullar (two cases). After a mean follow-up period of 30.6 months (12–84 months), clinical outcomes were favorable in all cases receiving medical treatment (corticoids), with a stabilization of the radiological lesions in eight cases and complete radiological regression in one patient. Conclusion: Brain radionecrosis is a late complication rarely occurring in patients irradiated for UCNT. Imaging techniques (CT scan but more so MRI) play a major role in the diagnosis. Corticotherapy resulted in a durable objective response in all patients and, in most cases, resulted in radiological stabilization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Antitetanus antibodies titration is carried out by French National Blood Services (FNBSs) with the aim of seeking donors whose title of antibodies are greater or equal to 8IU/ml. Different kits are used: ELISA antitetanus toxoid IgG (The Binding Site), ELISAT (Diagast), tetanus toxoid IgG ELISA (Diamed), ELISA IgG tetanus (Ingen). As the results obtained using these different reagents show some discrepancies with the control results carried out by the Laboratoire Français des Biotechnologies (LFB), it appeared necessary to harmonize the selection practices. With this intention a study of the different kits was initiated. Method: Different samples were used during this evaluation: (1) the Reference Control (RC) used by the FNBS; (2) a serum sample of high title; (3) a range of dilution of national standard. The following tests were carried out: (1) robustness with the evaluation of the contamination and the board effect; (2) linearity and repeatability (eight deposits of each standard, RC and points of national standard dilutions); (3) reproducibility; (4) homogeneity. After automatic dilution of the samples, the plates were then processed according to the protocol of the manufacturer. Results: The study gives the CV in percentage of repeatability and reproducibility, the values of the standards provided as well as the biais compared to the RC and the uncertainty of measurements. Conclusion: This study gave the possibility to rank each kit compared to RC and to specify the variations which surround each result. This variation can explain the discrepancy of conformity of plasma when title is close to the threshold of selection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Mediterranean stone pine Pinus pinea L. (gymnosperm, Pinaceae) is much appreciated for its seed production, widely used in food preparation in the Mediterranean Basin. Seeds contain 25% proteins on a dry-weight basis. Pinus pinea accumulate globulins as major storage proteins in seeds (75% of total storage proteins), composed of several subunits of 10 to 150 kDa, revealed by SDS-PAGE. The albumin fraction (15%) represents three subunits of 14, 24 and 46 kDa. Glutelins, the least soluble fraction, represents a small proportion (10%). Their constitutive units have frequent PM of 43 kDa. Prolamins also represent a very small percentage (1 to 2%). To cite this article: N. Nasri, S. Triki, C. R. Biologies 330 (2007). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: From 22 to 25 million liters of plasma are fractionated yearly in about 70 fractionation plants, either private or government-owned, mainly located in industrialized countries, and with a capacity ranging from 50000 to three million liters. In an increasingly global environment, the plasma industry has recently gone through a major consolidation phase that has seen mergers and acquisitions, and has led to the closure of a number of small plants in Europe. Currently, some fifteen countries are involved into contract plasma fractionation programs to ensure a supply of plasma-derived medicinal products. The majority of the plasma for fractionation is obtained by automated plasmapheresis, the remaining (recovered plasma) being prepared from whole blood as a by-product of red cell production. Plasma for fractionation should be produced, and controlled following well established procedures to meet the strict quality requirements set by regulatory authorities and fractionators. The plasma fractionation technology still relies heavily on the cold ethanol fractionation process, but has been improved by the introduction of modern chromatographic purification methods, and efficient viral inactivation and removal treatments, ensuring quality and safety to a large portfolio of fractionated plasma products. The safety of these products with regards to the risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease seems to be provided, based on current scientific data, by extensive removal of the infectious agent during certain fractionation steps. The leading plasma product is now the intravenous immunoglobulin G, which has replaced factor VIII and albumin in this role. The supply of plasma products (most specifically coagulation products and immunoglobulin) at an affordable price and in sufficient quantity remains an issue; the problem is particularly acute in developing countries, as the switch to recombinant factor VIII in rich countries has not solved the supply issue and has even led to an increase of the mean price of plasma-derived factor VIII to the developing world. In the last few years, the plasma fractionation industry has improved greatly, and should remain essential in the years to come for the procurement of many essential medicines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Protein products prepared from pooled human plasma are an essential class of therapeutics used mostly to control bleeding and/or immunological disorders. Because of the human origin of the starting material, there is a risk that these products may possibly transmit prions causing variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD). No case of transmission of prions by plasma products has been observed. Case-by-case measures implemented in various countries, and several technical factors may contribute, to various degrees, to the prevention of the risk of transmission of prions by plasma products. Those measures include (a) the epidemiological surveillance of population in countries with cases of vCJD and/or bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSE), (b) the deferral of blood donors who traveled or resided, for specific periods of time, to countries with BSE, or who received transfusion or tissue transplant, (c) the removal of leucocytes in plasma used for fractionation, and, last but not least, (d) the removal of the prion agents during the complex industrial fractionation process used to prepare plasma products. Numerous experimental infectivity studies, involving the spiking of brain-derived infectious materials, have demonstrated that several fractionation steps, in particular ethanol fractionation, depth filtration, and chromatography, can remove several logs of prions. Removal is explained by the distinct hydrophobic and aggregative properties of the prion proteins. In addition, nanofiltration using multi-layer membranes of 75 nm or smaller, which is commonly used for removing viruses from coagulation factors and immunoglobulins products, can remove more than 3–5 logs of spiked prions, presumably by size-exclusion and trapping mechanisms. Therefore, the risk of transmission of vCJD by human plasma products appears remote, but caution should prevail since the biochemical nature of the infectious agent in human blood is still unknown. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hypofractionation (i.e. the use of fewer higher fractional doses than usual) is not a new concept. It had actually been proposed in the early year of Radiotherapy by the German and Austrian specialists. In the seventy''s, supported by the –– wrong –– hypotheses which gave birth to the NSD (Nominal Standard Dose), hypofractionation reappears. The consequential increase of late complications which was observed led the radiation oncologists to give up again using large doses per fraction, except for a few specific situations, such as palliative treatments. We are recently facing a new “come-back” of hypofractionation, in particular for breast and prostate cancers. In the case of breast cancer, the aim is clearly to look for more “convenience” for both the patients and the physicians, proposing shorter irradiation schedules including a lesser number of fractions. Some “modestly” hypofractionated schemes have been proposed and used, without apparently altering the efficacy/toxicity ratio, but these results have been seriously questioned. As for prostate cancer, the situation is different, since in that case new radiobiological data are at the origin of the newly proposed hypofractionation schedules. A number of papers actually strongly suggested that the fractionation sensitivity of prostate cancer could be higher than the one of the tissues responsible for late toxicity (i.e the exact opposite of the classical dogma). Based on those data, several hypofractionated schemes have been proposed, with a few preliminary results looking similar to the ones obtained by the classical schedules. However, no randomised study is available so far, and a few recent radiobiological data are now questioning the new dogma of the high fractionation sensitivity of prostate cancer. For those two –– frequent –– cancers, it seems therefore that prudence should prevail before altering classical irradiation schedules which have proven their efficacy, while staying open to new concepts and proposing well-designed randomised trials in specific cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Breast conserving surgery associated with whole breast irradiation is the classical and fully evaluated treatment for early breast cancers (invasive or in situ). The standard schedule consists in delivering a total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks, sometimes associated with a 10-16 Gy boost. However, this irradiation is sometimes difficult to perform, especially in elderly women and/or in case of long distances from radio-therapy centers. To make treatment easier, two approaches are being developed: hypofractionated irradiation and partial breast irradiation (PBI). The first approach uses a reduced number of fractions (one, three or four per week), with a total equivalent dose of approximately 50 Gy. Several retrospective studies and a randomized trial have shown the feasibility of this treatment with excellent local control rates and acceptable cosmesis results. The second approach proposes the treatment of tumor bed exclusively and in a very short time. Various techniques have been described: interstitial brachytherapy (low or high dose rate) by implants or a special appliance, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) by photons or electrons and finally conformal external radiotherapy (with or without the use of modulated intensity). However, whatever the technique, the number of patients treated is small and follow-up is very short. The selection criteria are not well established as well as the optimal technical modalities. Finally, we must remember that several studies have shown a detrimental impact of local recurrences in long-term outcome. Thus, all these new techniques should be carefully evaluated in large prospective trials before becoming routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]