ABSTRACT Objectives To evaluate the complete response (CR) rate and surgeries performed in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant therapy (NT) at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo and at Hospital São Paulo, in Ribeirão Preto, from January 2007 to December 2017. Methods We evaluated 166 medical records of patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (T3, T4 or N+) who underwent NT. The regimen consisted of performing conventional (2D) or conformational (three-dimensional-3D/ radiotherapy with modulated intensity – IMRT) at a dose of 45-50.4Gy associated with capecitabine 1650mg/m2 or 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and leucovorin (LV). The following variables were analyzed: gender, age, pretreatment stage, radiotherapy, CR index, local and distant recurrence rates. Surgical treatment and complications were also evaluated. Results The CR index was 28.3%. Patients treated with 3D/IMRT radiotherapy had a higher rate of CR (36.3% x 4.8%; p < 0.001), higher rates of clinical follow-up (21% x 0%; p < 0.001), lower surgery rates (79% x 100%; p < 0.001), higher rates of transanal resection (37.1% x 9.5%; p = 0.001), lower rates of abdominal rectosigmoidectomy (25.8% x 50%; p = 0.007) and lower rates of abdominoperineal resection of the rectum (16.1% x 40.5%; p = 0.002), when compared to patients treated with 2D radiotherapy. Conclusion Modern radiotherapy techniques such as 3D conformal and IMRT, by offering greater adequacy and precision of treatment, could result in better local control and less toxicity in organs at risk, enabling organ preservation strategies and less invasive approaches in selected cases.

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of Cr3+-doped alumina by the sol-gel non-hydrolytic methodology. The resulting sample was treated at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction revealed that the ruby phase emerged in the sample treated at 1100 ºC, which was later confirmed by absorption bands correspondent to Cr3+ ions allowed transitions at 4A2 → 4T1, 4T2, and forbidden at 4A2 → 2T1, 2E, observed by diffuse reflectance UV-Vis. The luminescence spectroscopy showed the intensity band at 694 nm in red region, characterized of the Cr3+ ion. The peaks at 702 and 705 nm correspond to N1 and N2 lines, respectively, which arose from the second and fourth nearest-neighbor exchange-coupled pairs of chromium(III) ion, respectively, ascribed to high chromium(III) concentration. The Cr3+ cluster formation was observed in electron paramagnetic resonance signal as discussed in this work. Nuclear magnetic resonance evidenced that the 27 Al symmetry changed in the samples treated between 900 and 1100 ºC.

Utilizouse a metodologia solgel para obtenção de uma matriz de sílica modificada com íons de cálcio e fosfato. Preparouse a matriz, por hidrólise e condensação dos precursores trietil fosfato, nitrato de cálcio, e tetraetilortosilicato, que foram as fontes de fosfato, de cálcio, e de silício, respectivamente. As amostras foram secas e tratadas termicamente a 110 e 900°C e colocadas em contato com fluido corporal simulado (SBF) por três dias. Realizouse microscopia eletrônica de varredura, difração de raios X, espectroscopia na região do infravermelho, o que evidenciou que a amostra tratada a 110°C continha silicato de cálcio, fosfato e hidroxiapatita, antes e após o contato com SBF, respectivamente. A amostra tratada a 900°C exibiu a fase hidroxiapatita, antes e após o contato com SBF, mas a fase cristalina foi mais evidente após o contato. Em conclusão, o método de solgel forneceu amostras bioativas para regeneração óssea.

We employed the solgel methodology to obtain a silica matrix modified with calcium and phosphate ions. We prepared the matrix by hydrolysis and condensation of the precursors triethyl phosphate, calcium nitrate, and tetraethylorthosilicate, which were the sources of phosphate, calcium, and silicon, respectively. We dried and heattreated the samples at 110 or 900°C and placed them in simulated body fluid (SBF) for three days. We conducted scanning electron microscopy, Xray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy analyses, which evidenced that the sample treated at 110°C contained calcium phosphate silicate and hydroxyapatite before and after contact with SBF, respectively. The sample treated at 900°C exhibited a hydroxyapatite phase before and after contact with SBF, but the crystalline phase was more evident after the contact. In conclusion, the solgel methodology provided bioactive samples for bone regeneration.

This work aimed at the synthesis and characterization of particles of modified silica containing the organic filter dibenzoylmethane (DBM) by the hydrolytic sol-gel method, with modifications to the Stöber route. The structures of the resulting Xerogels were characterized by diffuse reflectance UV-VIS spectroscopy in the solid state, infrared absorption spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and 29Si Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (29Si NRM). The results showed favorable formation of hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles with efficient absorption/reflectance of radiation in the UV / VIS range, which enables their potential use as sunscreen.

An evaluation was made of the properties of sugarcane bagasse during the storage process for subsequent burning in a boiler. Samples of bagasse were collected over a period of 150 days from the Caeté sugar mill (MG) at various points of the stockpile soon after the sugarcane was pressed to extract its juice, as well as from natural bagasse, dry and damp. Thermal analyses of the samples were carried out and the results indicated that, during the storage of bagasse, dry or damp, the biomass loses up to 32% of its calorific power, due to decomposition of the hemicellulose.

In this work, we report the synthesis and the photoluminescence features of Eu(III)-doped yttrium-aluminium oxide obtained by non-hydrolytic sol-gel routes. After heating the powders above 600 ºC the XRD patterns show the presence of the Y4Al2O9 (YAM) and Y3Al5O12 (YAG) phases. At 800 and at 1500 ºC the PL spectra display the Eu(III) lines characteristic of the YAM monoclinic phase. The 5D0->7F2 transition is favored relatively to the 5D0->7F1 lines. However, at 1100 ºC the cubic YAG is the preferential phase and the 5D0->7F1 transition dominates the spectrum. The Eu(III) ions lie in a centrosymmetrical site. The different solvents used in the sol-gel synthesis also change the relative proportion between these two phases. This is monitored analyzing the modifications in the relative intensity between the 5D0->7F2 and the 5D0->7F1 transitions.