Short-hairpin RNA library: identification of therapeutic partners for gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer.

Somatic mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor often cause resistance to therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we aimed to identify partner drugs and pathways that can induce cell death in combination with gefitinib in NSCLC cells. We undertook a genome-wide RNAi screen to identify synthetic lethality with gefitinib in tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistant cells.

Do genitourinary physicians report notifiable diseases? A survey in South East England.

Genitourinary medicine work requires public health actions. Notifiable infections may be seen in genitourinary medicine, but concerns over confidentiality could delay public health actions and outbreak management. To assess genitourinary medicine clinicians' awareness of notification of infectious disease, reporting practices and liaison with Health Protection Units, we sent postal surveys to 140 genitourinary medicine clinicians (SE HPA region) that explored prior public health training, Health Protection Unit liaison and management of possible clinical scenarios.

Belinostat and panobinostat (HDACI): in vitro and in vivo studies in thyroid cancer.

Purpose: Advanced thyroid cancer responds poorly to most therapies. New therapies and combinations are needed. The aim of this study was to examine both in vitro and in vivo activity of two relatively new histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs), belinostat and panobinostat, and a variety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) against a panel of nine human thyroid cancer cell lines.

SOX7 is down-regulated in lung cancer.

Background: SOX7 is a transcription factor belonging to the SOX family. Its role in lung cancer is unknown.

Methods: In this study, whole genomic copy number analysis was performed on a series of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and samples from individuals with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations using a SNP-Chip platform.

Repeat infection with gonorrhoea in Sheffield, UK: predictable and preventable?

Background: Repeat infection with gonorrhoea may contribute significantly to infection persistence and health service workload. The authors investigated whether repeat infection is associated with particular subgroups who may benefit from tailored interventions.

Methods: Data on gonorrhoea diagnoses between 2004 and 2008 were obtained from Sheffield sexually transmitted infection clinic.

A more cost effective and rapid high percentage germ-line transmitting chimeric mouse generation procedure via microinjection of 2-cell, 4-cell, and 8-cell embryos with ES and iPS cells.

The long-standing traditional method of delivering embryonic stem (ES) cells adjacent to the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocysts to generate chimeras improved with the advent of laser- or Piezo assisted 8-cell embryo microinjection. Building on this technology but omitting either the laser or the Piezo to penetrate the zona pellucida and making use of earlier embryonic stages (2-cell and 4-cell), we were able to significantly speed up and economize our ES cell microinjection and chimera production throughput. We demonstrate here that embryonic (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can stay fully pluripotent when delivered into 2-cell- and 4-cell-stage embryos, long before they would naturally be incorporated into the ICM of a blastocyst (E3.

The macromolecular assembly of pathogen-recognition receptors is impelled by serine proteases, via their complement control protein modules.

Although the innate immune response is triggered by the formation of a stable assembly of pathogen-recognition receptors (PRRs) onto the pathogens, the driving force that enables this PRR-PRR interaction is unknown. Here, we show that serine proteases, which are activated during infection, participate in associating with the PRRs. Inhibition of serine proteases gravely impairs the PRR assembly.

Data from UK genitourinary medicine clinics, 2006: a mixed picture.

Objective: To give an overview of the latest latest trends in diagnoses made and services provided by genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the UK.

Methods: Aggregate data collected from the KC60 statistical returns for GUM clinics in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and disaggregate data collected using the STI Surveillance System for GUM Clinics in Scotland. These data were collated and numbers of diagnoses were adjusted for missing clinic data.