KRAS and GNAS mutations in cell-free DNA and in circulating epithelial cells in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms-an observational pilot study.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are potential precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer. We assessed the efficacy of screening for KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase (KRAS), and GNAS complex locus (GNAS) mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-using digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and circulating epithelial cell (CEC) detection-as biomarkers for risk stratification in IPMN patients. We prospectively collected plasma samples from 25 resected patients at risk of malignant progression, and 23 under clinical surveillance.

Prediction of resistance to bevacizumab plus FOLFOX in metastatic colorectal cancer-Results of the prospective multicenter PERMAD trial.

Background: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are widely used for tumor treatment, including metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). So far, there are no biomarkers that reliably predict resistance to anti-VEGF mAbs like bevacizumab. A biomarker-guided strategy for early and accurate assessment of resistance could avoid the use of non-effective treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Nanoliposomal Irinotecan With Fluorouracil and Leucovorin or Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin in Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma: A Phase II Study of the AIO Hepatobiliary-YMO Cancer Groups (NIFE-AIO-YMO HEP-0315).

Purpose: First-line therapy options in advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are based on the ABC-02 trial regimen (gemcitabine/cisplatin [G/C]). The NIFE trial examined nanoliposomal irinotecan/fluorouracil/leucovorin (nal-IRI/FU/LV) as alternative first-line therapy in advanced CCA.

Methods: NIFE is a prospective, open-label, randomized, multicenter phase II study that aimed at detecting efficacy comparable with the standard treatment.

 (Rubiaceae, Rubieae), a new species from Lefkada (Ionian Islands, Greece) and its ecological position.

The new species, (Rubiaceae, Rubieae), a narrow endemic of the white cliffs of Lefkátas on the southwest coast of Lefkada (Greece) is described and illustrated and an IUCN assessment is presented. Vegetation relevés were performed at the single known locality, limestone cliffs facing the sea and revealed a new association, the -. The chromosome number of was determined as 2 = 4 = 44, being the single tetraploid species in the genus to date.

[Cancer in people with an intellectual disability in Germany: prevalence, genetics, and care situation].

Intellectual disability has a prevalence rate of approximately 1% of the population; in Germany, this is around 0.5-1 million people. The life expectancy of this group of people is reduced, with cancer being one of the most common causes of death (approx.

Large interlayer Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions across Ag-layers.

Seeking to enhance the strength of the interlayer Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (IL-DMI) through a combination of atomic and Rashba type spin-orbit coupling (SOC) we studied the strength and the thickness evolution of effective interlayer coupling in Co/Ag/Co trilayers by means of surface sensitive magneto-optical measurements that take advantage of the light penetration depth. Here, we report the observation of oscillatory, thickness-dependent chiral interaction between ferromagnetic layers. Despite the weakness of the Ag atomic SOC, the IL-DMI in our trilayers is orders of magnitude larger than that of known systems using heavy metals as a spacer except of recently reported -0.

Solved at last: The Philippine endemic is a synonym of (Rubiaceae, Scyphiphoreae).

(Rubiaceae) was described by Chamisso and Schlechtendal in 1829, was the first name published for the Philippines and is currently considered a Philippine endemic. The name remained in a taxonomic limbo for almost two centuries as it was variously accepted, synonymized or considered obscure, probably because the type specimen in the Berlin herbarium was destroyed and no original material has survived or is currently known. A combined analysis of the information on morphology, type locality and ecology contained in the protologue and a review of relevant literature on the study of the name by various authors over the last two centuries finally clarified the identity of .

Endoscopic trans-anal tube placement is a safe and helpful tool for colonic decompression: final results of a standardized single-centre retrospective assessment of 125 patients.

Objectives: Endoscopic trans-anal colonic decompression (ECD) may be requested in the case of massive colon distension, but evidence regarding success and safety issues remains scarce. The aim of this analysis is to examine the technical success, complications and clinical outcome in a large series of patients undergoing an ECD in various clinical scenarios. A standardized evaluation system was used to identify the pre-interventional risk parameters that might be helpful to guide clinical decision making.

Phytochemistry Meets Geochemistry—Blumenol C Sulfate: A New Megastigmane Sulfate from Palicourea luxurians (Rubiaceae: Palicoureeae).

There is a previously neglected influence of geochemical conditions on plant phytochemistry. In particular, high concentrations of dissolved salts can affect their biosynthesis of natural products. Detoxification is most likely an important aspect for the plant, but additional natural products can also give it an expanded range of bioactivities.

Green Tea Extract to Prevent Colorectal Adenomas, Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Preclinical, epidemiological, and small clinical studies suggest that green tea extract (GTE) and its major active component epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) exhibit antineoplastic effects in the colorectum.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind trial of GTE standardized to 150 mg of EGCG b.i.

Seasonal Variations in the Diagnosis of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A National Cancer Registry Study in Austria.

We conducted a retrospective National Cancer Registry study in Austria to assess a possible seasonal variation in the clinical diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). In total, 3615 testicular cancer diagnoses were identified during an 11-year period from 2008 to 2018. Rate ratios for the monthly number of TGCT diagnoses, as well as of seasons and half-years, were assessed using a quasi-Poisson model.

Modifying Critical Exponents of Magnetic Phase Transitions via Nanoscale Materials Design.

We demonstrate a nanoscale materials design path that allows us to bypass universality in thin ferromagnetic films and enables us to tune the critical exponents of ferromagnetic phase transitions in a very wide parameter range, while at the same time preserving scaling in an extended phase space near the Curie temperature. Our detailed magnetometry results reveal that single crystal CoRu alloy films, in which the predefined depth dependent exchange coupling strength follows a V-shaped profile, exhibit critical scaling behavior over many orders of magnitude. Their critical exponents, however, can be designed and controlled by modifying their specific nanoscale structures, thus demonstrating full tunability of critical behavior.

Insect Collections as an Untapped Source of Bioactive Compounds-Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) and Cardiotonic Steroids as a Proof of Concept.

Natural history collections provide an invaluable basis for systematics, ecology, and conservation. Besides being an important source of DNA, museum specimens may also contain a plethora of natural products. Especially, dried insect collections represent a global repository with billions of inventoried vouchers.

Dissecting Metabolism of Leaf Nodules in and .

Root-microbe interaction and its specialized root nodule structures and functions are well studied. In contrast, leaf nodules harboring microbial endophytes in special glandular leaf structures have only recently gained increased interest as plant-microbe phyllosphere interactions. Here, we applied a comprehensive metabolomics platform in combination with natural product isolation and characterization to dissect leaf and leaf nodule metabolism and functions in (Primulaceae) and (Rubiaceae).

Blood-Based Targeted Metabolomics Discriminate Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis from Those with Non-Cirrhotic Liver Damage: An Explorative Study.

Background: Early detection of liver cirrhosis is crucial for secondary prevention of complications. However, noninvasive blood-based patient monitoring tools are lacking. In this explorative study, we conducted a targeted metabolomic analysis in order to identify possible serum markers indicating alcoholic liver cirrhosis (aLiC) with or without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Nintedanib plus mFOLFOX6 as second-line treatment of metastatic, chemorefractory colorectal cancer: The randomised, placebo-controlled, phase II TRICC-C study (AIO-KRK-0111).

Nintedanib is a triple angiokinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1-3, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-3 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-a/-b. Thereby, it targets angiogenic escape mechanisms. The trial TyRosine kinase Inhibitor for the treatment of Chemorefractory Colorectal Cancer (TRICC-C) trial evaluates the addition of nintedanib to mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Alkaloid and iridoid glucosides from Palicourea luxurians (Rubiaceae: Palicoureeae) indicate tryptamine- and tryptophan-iridoid alkaloid formation apart the strictosidine pathway.

The first phytochemical examination of extracts from leaves and stem bark of Palicourea luxurians (Rusby) Borhidi yielded two undescribed and one known alstrostine derivative together with the oxindole alkaloid javaniside as well as with 5α-carboxystrictosidine. Additionally, five iridoids and four secologanin derived isolation artifacts have been isolated. Lack of strictosidine and its follow-up metabolization products suggested that the Pictet-Spenglerase in P.

Modularity and evolution of flower shape: the role of function, development, and spandrels in Erica.

Flowers have been hypothesized to contain either modules of attraction and reproduction, functional modules (pollination-effecting parts) or developmental modules (organ-specific). Do pollination specialization and syndromes influence floral modularity? In order to test these hypotheses and answer this question, we focused on the genus Erica: we gathered 3D data from flowers of 19 species with diverse syndromes via computed tomography, and for the first time tested the above-mentioned hypotheses via 3D geometric morphometrics. To provide an evolutionary framework for our results, we tested the evolutionary mode of floral shape, size and integration under the syndromes regime, and - for the first time - reconstructed the high-dimensional floral shape of their most recent common ancestor.

A Blood-Based Multi Marker Assay Supports the Differential Diagnosis of Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer.

The most frequent malignancy of the pancreas is the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite many efforts PDAC has still a dismal prognosis. Biomarkers for early disease stage diagnosis as a prerequisite for a potentially curative treatment are still missing.

Association between family history, mutation locations, and prevalence of BRCA1 or 2 mutations in ovarian cancer patients.

We investigated the prevalence of germline BRCA mutations in a population-based cohort of Austrian women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and its association with family history of cancer. We prospectively collected family pedigrees of 443 Austrian ovarian cancer patients who had been tested for the presence of a germline BRCA or 2 mutations and correlated the familial breast and ovarian cancer burden with the prevalence of BRCA mutations and disease onset. The probability of carrying a gBRCA mutation in patients without family history of cancer is 14% (95% CI 9%-22%), as opposed to 45% (95% CI 31%-59%) of patients with at least one family member with ovarian cancer, and 47% (95% CI 40%-54%) if other relatives have developed breast cancer.

Rediscovery of Chamisso's type specimens of Hawaiian (Rubiaceae, Psychotrieae) in the herbarium of the Natural History Museum, Vienna.

Between 1815 and 1818, Count Nikolai Romanzoff funded an expedition of the Russian brig . Besides their primary goal to discover the Northeast Passage, their aim was to collect scientific specimens, for which the botanist Adelbert von Chamisso and the entomologist Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz were commissioned. On the Hawaiian Islands, they collected two unknown endemic species that Chamisso and Diederich Franz Leonhard von Schlechtendal later described as and , both now assigned to the large and complex genus (Rubiaceae, Psychotrieae).

Neoadjuvant plus adjuvant or only adjuvant nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine for resectable pancreatic cancer - the NEONAX trial (AIO-PAK-0313), a prospective, randomized, controlled, phase II study of the AIO pancreatic cancer group.

Background: Even clearly resectable pancreatic cancer still has an unfavorable prognosis. Neoadjuvant or perioperative therapies might improve the prognosis of these patients. Thus, evaluation of perioperative chemotherapy in resectable pancreatic cancer in a prospective, randomized trial is warranted.