A novel selective small-molecule PI3K inhibitor is effective against human multiple myeloma in vitro and in vivo.

Developing effective therapies against multiple myeloma (MM) is an unresolved challenge. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) activation may be associated with tumor progression and drug resistance, and inhibiting PI3K can induce apoptosis in MM cells. Thus, targeting of PI3K is predicted to increase the susceptibility of MM to anticancer therapy.

Determination of copper and iron in human blood serum by energy dispersive x-ray analysis.

Human blood serum has been analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy utilizing the effect of background reduction by total reflexion of the incident X-ray beam on an optical flat as sample support. For sample preparation a drop of 10 microliter serum was pipetted onto the support and dried to a thin film. The minimum detectable limit was about 1.