Improving Nonenzymatic Biosensing Performance of Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers decorated with Ni/Co Particles via Oxidation.

Nonenzymatic biosensors do not require enzyme immobilization nor face degradation problem. Hence, nonenzymatic biosensors have recently attracted growing attention due to the stability and reproducibility. Here, a comparative study was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the glucose sensing of pure/oxidized Ni, Co, and their bimetal nanostructures grown on electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs) to provide a low-cost free-standing electrode.

Rheological Behavior and Filtration of Water-Based Drilling Fluids Containing Graphene Oxide: Experimental Measurement, Mechanistic Understanding, and Modeling.

Any improvement in drilling technology is critical for developing the oil and gas industry. The success of drilling operations largely depends on drilling fluid characteristics. Drilling fluids require enough viscosity to suspend the particles and transport them to the surface and enough capability to control the fluid loss into the formation.

Acquired Pure Red Cell Aplasia Associated with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: Too Many of One, Not Enough of the Other.

There is a growing body of literature outlining the association between certain hematological malignancies, such as chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and systemic autoimmune diseases. Diagnosis and management can be difficult, particularly when autoimmune phenomena overlap with features of the underlying illness. This is especially the case in patients who develop immune-mediated cytopenias in the context of underlying bone marrow disease.

Pralatrexate in relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphoma: a retrospective multicenter study.

We present a retrospective multicenter study of pralatrexate treatment outcomes in an Australian practice setting for patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphoma who had failed 1+ systemic therapies, treated a compassionate access program. Endpoints assessed included response rates, toxicities, and subsequent therapies. Progression-free survival (PFS), time to next treatment (TTNT), event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and time to best response, were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Excellent outcomes in older patients with primary CNS lymphoma treated with R-MPV/cytarabine without whole brain radiotherapy or autologous stem cell transplantation therapy.

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) in immunocompetent patients is a disease of older adults who are often unsuitable for the high dose therapy or experience substantial morbidity from whole brain radiotherapy. As therapeutic studies in older patients are limited, there is a need for real world data to guide patient care. Here we report a series of 38 consecutive immunocompetent patients with PCNSL treated with curative intent using R-MPV/Ara-C with omission of consolidative radiotherapy in older patients.

Addition of low dose acetazolamide as an adjunct in patients undergoing high dose methotrexate is safe and beneficial.

Background: High-dose methotrexate (HDMTx) is utilised in central nervous system lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia due to its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Despite its efficacy, nephrotoxicity is a potentially serious toxicity that could also exacerbate other methotrexate-related toxicities and compromise dose intensity. Acetazolamide (AZL) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that causes an increase in bicarbonate excretion and consequently urine alkalinisation.

Dose-reduced fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab is well tolerated in older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and has preserved therapeutic efficacy.

Despite its efficacy in prospective trials, full dose fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) may be too toxic for elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in clinical practice. We retrospectively reviewed the impact of dose reductions in FCR therapy on the outcomes of 42 consecutive patients aged 65-87 (median 72) years. Despite a median cumulative fludarabine dose reduction of 50% from full dose, the objective response and complete response rates were 86% and 38% respectively (frontline 94%/59%; previously treated 80%/24%).

Use of Lenalidomide in 5q-Myelodysplastic Syndrome Provides Novel Treatment Prospects in Management of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.

We present the case of a 71-year-old woman with a long-standing history of refractory pulmonary sarcoidosis, who, upon commencement of treatment with lenalidomide for her newly diagnosed 5q-myelodysplastic syndrome, showed a remarkable, immediate, unexpected response and recovery of her sarcoidosis-related symptoms, improvement of her vital capacity, and complete clearance of her bibasal alveolor infiltrates. To our knowledge, this is the first case to report on the significant and immediate efficacy of lenalidomide in the management of pulmonary sarcoidosis. It provides a potential role for the use of lenalidomide as a novel therapeutic agent in patients with refractory pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Subdural hemorrhage - a serious complication post-intrathecal chemotherapy. A case report and review of literature.

We need to have a high index of suspicion for subdural hemorrhage (SDH) post-lumbar puncture in hematological patients given their increased risk and the significant morbidity and mortality associated with SDHs.

Hypophysitis due to IgG4-related disease responding to treatment with azathioprine: an alternative to corticosteroid therapy.

Purpose: Fifteen cases of lymphocytic hypophysitis due to IgG4-related disease have been reported demonstrating marked improvement with corticosteroid therapy. This is the first case of IgG4-related hypophysitis demonstrating improvement with azathioprine, where corticosteroids were initially tried but ceased due to concern regarding enlargement of the pituitary infiltrate.

Methods: Case description and review of 15 cases reported in the literature.

Venous thromboembolism prevention in patients undergoing colorectal surgery for cancer.

Introduction: Patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer are at high risk of post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Thromboprophylaxis has been shown to have significant risk reduction, although there remains some controversy surrounding the optimal duration of pharmacological prophylaxis. Our institution does not routinely practise extended prophylaxis.

Perioperative management of anticoagulation in elective surgery.

Surgeons commonly need to treat patients receiving anticoagulant and anti-platelet therapy. This requires risk assessment and management to balance minimization of bleeding complications and avoidance of further ischaemic or thrombotic events. This review considers the evidence available to guide management of patients on anti-platelet and anticoagulant therapy, including some of the new classes of anti-platelets and anticoagulants which clinicians may be less familiar with.

Predicting survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

There is increasing interest in the use of prognostic markers that may predict survival and guide management in patients diagnosed with the early stages of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Currently, the most important traditional prognostic factors include clinical staging, lymphocyte doubling time and β2-microglobulin/thymidine kinase; and the most important novel markers include karyotypic aberrations (typically assessed by FISH probes or CpG oligonucleotide karyotyping) and IgVH mutation status. Although each of these factors have individually shown significant correlations with survival, there is increasing appreciation that the most complete information may be obtained by using a combination of several factors in prognostic normograms or models.

New angles of attack in the fight against chronic lymphocytic leukemia: the advent of novel non-chemotherapeutic agents.

Therapeutic outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have improved markedly with the introduction of potent chemoimmunotherapy regimens capable of regularly debulking the disease to a state of complete remission. However, current combinations are reaching the limits of tolerability and effectiveness. As the major toxicities of treatment are myelosuppression and opportunistic infections, the choice of additional agents to add to current combinations must focus on agents with reduced propensity to these complications, as well as agents that have novel mechanisms of action distinct from DNA damage.