The main objective of this research was to compare physicochemical parameters, antioxidant activity, lipid composition, and sensory analysis of initial and roasted carob pod powder (Ceratonia siliqua L.) obtained at different roasting temperatures. The roasted products became darker and the average moisture content, water activity, oil content, and sweetness values decreased at higher temperatures. Total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity increased with increasing roasted temperature. Oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid were the main fatty acids present in carob oil. Results showed that the roasted carob pod powders are sweeter, have more caramel-like taste, and have more cacao-like aroma at lower roasting temperatures but have more astringent taste, coffee-like aroma, and roasted aroma at higher roasting temperatures.

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Background: Initial results of Chemo-Radiotherapy for esophageal cancer followed by Surgery Study (CROSS) in locally advanced resectable esophageal and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer showed better outcomes in favor of the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery group. Our goal is to describe the overall survival (OS) and its correlation with the response by PET-CT (rPET) in esophageal cancer (EC).Methods: We performed a retrospective study of locally advanced esophageal and EGJ cancer patients treated in our center using the CROSS trial scheme of weekly administration of carboplatin and paclitaxel for five weeks and concurrent radiotherapy (41.4 Gy in 23 fractions, five days per week) followed by surgery. We calculated the metabolic response with the SUVmax difference between the diagnostic PET-CT and the assessment after the chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We used Kaplan-Meier curves plotted for OS and log-rank test for association between rPET and OS.

Median follow up was 17 months (25th-75th percentiles: 14-30 months). In the whole population, median second-line PFS was 3.7 months (25th-75th percentiles: 2.6-7.2 months) and median second-line OS was 7.9 months (25th-75th percentiles: 4-15.7 months). Baseline serum LDH levels were reported for 66 out of 94 patients. High LDH levels prior to second-line start confirmed to be associated with worse PFS (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.04-4.45, p¼0.034) and OS (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.18-5.55, p¼0.0016) when compared to low or normal LDH levels. At subgroup analyses, patients treated with ramucirumab-based regimens who had elevated baseline LDH levels had a trend towards worse PFS (HR 2.76, 95% CI 1.09-6.94, p¼0.031) (p of interaction 0.31) and OS (HR 4.29, 95% CI 1.59-11.51, p¼0.004) (p of interaction¼0.096). Conclusion:High baseline LDH levels prior to the start of the second-line treatment are confirmed as predictors of a worse outcome in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Moreover, subgroup analyses suggest their role in predicting the activity of antiangiogenic agents. Case expansion and prospective validation are needed in order to confirm these findings.

Results: 49 patients with obstructive jaundice had 76 PTC procedures during the review period. Median patient age was 66 years (range 42 e 90 years). 18 patients (36%) were male and 31 patients (63 %) were female. 20 patients (40 %) had gallbladder and cholangiocarcinoma, 11 patients (22 %) had pancreatic cancer, 8 patients (16 %) had colorectal cancer, 2 had melanoma, 2 had ovarian cancer, 1 had hepatocellular carcinoma, 1 had small bowel cancer, 1 had duodenal cancer, 1 had RCC and 1 had a neuroendocrine tumour. Median time from admission with obstructive jaundice to PTC was 7 days (range 1-42 days). The median duration of hospital stay was 20 days (range 1-65 days). Post PTC 26.5 % patient had further systemic treatment with a median survival of 99 days while 73.5 % of patients had no further treatment, median survival in this sub-group was 44 days. Reasons for no further treatment included frailty in 61 % patients, a decline in performance status post-PTC in 11 %, unsuccessful PTC in 8%, no further treatment available in 5 %, further treatment declined in 3%, stable disease and surveillance in 3% and deaths during the admission in 11% patients. Post PTC, 24% of patients died within 30 days, 32% died between 31-90 days while 44 % of patients survived beyond 90 days. We noticed a 10% complication risk post-PTC with sepsis being the commonest. Re-procedure bilirubin levels did not have any impact on overall survival. Median overall survival post-PTC was 52 days. Conclusion:Obstructive jaundice is a debilitating oncological complication leading to increased patient morbidity and mortality. Fit patients with potential for further treatment should be considered for urgent intervention to improve jaundice, but terminally ill patients with poor performance status and no therapeutic option could be considered for best supportive care.Legal entity responsible for the study: The author.

The overall recurrence rate was 33.9% in the CROSS group and 44.1% in the CROSS group. The patterns of recurrence were similar in both groups and distant failure predominated in this R0 cohort (23.7% in CROSS and 30.5% in PFRT). Conclusion:While the jury is still out for the best NACRT regimens for ESCC, our results suggest similar efficacy of both CROSS and PFRT regimens in those who achieved R0 resection. The pattern of recurrence was similar to those reported in the landmark CROSS study but the survival outcomes could not be reproduced in the Asian community-setting with ESCC. Further studies to optimize patient selection and treatment intensification are unmet needs for this aggressive disease.