Long chain fatty acids analysis of intertidal biofilm by direct injection liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry.

The critical importance of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) in a variety of biological functions, including animal nutrition and as an environmental stress monitor, is well recognized. However, while methods exist for monitoring of fatty acids, few are specific either to the profile of a microphytobenthos matrix or practical in application to multiple, diverse intertidal biofilm sample sets. In the current study, a sensitive liquid chromatography (LC) quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (QTOF) method was developed for the quantitative analysis of 31 FAs specific to intertidal biofilm, a thin mucilaginous layer of microalgae, bacteria, and other organisms on the surface of coastal mudflats, which provide a rich source of FAs for migratory birds.

Implementing Outcomes-Based Managed Entry Agreements for Rare Disease Treatments: Nusinersen and Tisagenlecleucel.

Background And Objective: Enthusiasm for the use of outcomes-based managed entry agreements (OBMEAs) to manage uncertainties apparent at the time of appraisal/pricing and reimbursement of new medicines has waned over the past decade, as challenges in establishment, implementation and re-appraisal have been identified. With the recent advent of innovative treatments for rare diseases that have uncertainties in the clinical evidence base, but which could meet a high unmet need, there has been renewed interest in the potential of OBMEAs. The objective of this research was to review the implementation of OBMEAs for two case studies across countries in the European Union, Australia and Canada, to identify good practices that could inform development of tools to support implementation of OBMEAs.

Exploratory outcome analyses according to stage and/or residual disease in the ICON7 trial of carboplatin and paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer.

Objective: In the randomized phase 3 ICON7 trial (ISRCTN91273375), adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS; primary endpoint) but not overall survival (OS; secondary endpoint) in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. We explored treatment effect according to stage and extent of residual disease.

Methods: Patients with stage IIB-IV or high-risk (grade 3/clear-cell) stage I-IIA ovarian cancer were randomized to receive six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel either alone or with bevacizumab 7.

Detailed investigations into the Akabori-Momotani reaction for the synthesis of amphetamine type stimulants: Part 2.

The Akabori-Momotani reaction can be used to synthesise pseudoephedrine in 50% yield from N-methylalanine and benzaldehyde. This paper investigates electronic effects of substituted benzaldehydes on the reaction to synthesise amphetamine type stimulants and identifies several new Akabori-Momotani by-products, 1-[(4-methoxybenzyl)(methyl)amino]ethanol (11c), 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine (12c), 1,2,3,4-tetramethyl-5,6-di-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (13c) and 1,2,4,5-tetramethyl-3,6-di-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (14c). This paper also investigates pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine isomeric distribution from the Akabori-Momotani reaction with the aid of molecular modelling to understand why more pseudoephedrine than ephedrine is produced.

Germline whole exome sequencing and large-scale replication identifies as a likely high grade serous ovarian cancer susceptibility gene.

We analyzed whole exome sequencing data in germline DNA from 412 high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas Project and identified 5,517 genes harboring a predicted deleterious germline coding mutation in at least one HGSOC case. Gene-set enrichment analysis showed enrichment for genes involved in DNA repair (p = 1.8×10).

Elevated IgG4 in patient circulation is associated with the risk of disease progression in melanoma.

Emerging evidence suggests pathological and immunoregulatory functions for IgG4 antibodies and IgG4 B cells in inflammatory diseases and malignancies. We previously reported that IgG4 antibodies restrict activation of immune effector cell functions and impair humoral responses in melanoma. Here, we investigate IgG4 as a predictor of risk for disease progression in a study of human sera (n = 271: 167 melanoma patients; 104 healthy volunteers) and peripheral blood B cells (n = 71: 47 melanoma patients; 24 healthy volunteers).

Nurse-Led Telephone Follow-up: Improving Options for Women With Endometrial Cancer.

Background: Nurse-led follow-up (NLFU) has been identified as a suitable means of follow-up care in cancer patients, and its acceptability has already been demonstrated in other areas of cancer care.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of NLFU on quality of life and patient satisfaction compared with conventional follow-up (CFU) in women treated for endometrial cancer and to evaluate the feasibility of NLFU, in terms of patient acceptance and referral to consultant clinic.

Methods: Participants included women diagnosed with endometrial cancer between 2008 and 2013.