Injuries and Fatalities on Sailboats in the United States 2000-2011: An Analysis of US Coast Guard Data.

Background: Prior sailing injury studies have been small, focused investigations. This large, population-based study examined the mechanisms and factors contributing to sailboat-related injuries and deaths.

Methods: A retrospective data analysis of the Boating Accident Report Database compiled by the US Coast Guard between 2000 and 2011 was performed.

Novel test method (sickle confirm) to differentiate sickle cell anemia from sickle cell trait for potential use in developing countries.

The objective of this study was to develop a diagnostic testing method to detect HbS, distinguish sickle cell homozygotes from heterozygotes, and overcome testing barriers encountered in laboratories in underdeveloped countries. Blood samples positive and negative for sickle cell were subjected to the standard hemoglobin solubility test followed by a variety of centrifugation and filtration procedures. Each procedure was evaluated for the ability to remove insoluble HbS from the sample.

Characterizing DNA methylation patterns in pancreatic cancer genome.

We performed a global methylation profiling assay on 1505 CpG sites across 807 genes to characterize DNA methylation patterns in pancreatic cancer genome. We found 289 CpG sites that were differentially methylated in normal pancreas, pancreatic tumors and cancer cell lines. We identified 23 and 35 candidate genes that are regulated by hypermethylation and hypomethylation in pancreatic cancer, respectively.

Pharmacodynamic-guided modified continuous reassessment method-based, dose-finding study of rapamycin in adult patients with solid tumors.

Purpose: Pharmacodynamic studies are frequently incorporated into phase I trials, but it is uncommon that they guide dose selection. We conducted a dose selection study with daily rapamycin (sirolimus) in patients with solid tumors employing a modified continuous reassessment method (mCRM) using real-time pharmacodynamic data as primary dose-estimation parameter.

Patients And Methods: We adapted the mCRM logit function from its classic toxicity-based input data to a pharmacodynamic-based input.

Coordinated epidermal growth factor receptor pathway gene overexpression predicts epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor sensitivity in pancreatic cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib is approved for treatment of pancreatic cancer but the overall activity is minimal, and known predictive factors for EGFR inhibitor efficacy are infrequent in this disease. We tested the hypothesis that global activation of the EGFR pathway is predictive of EGFR inhibitor efficacy. Pancreatic cancer tumors directly xenografted at surgery were treated with the EGFR inhibitors erlotinib and cetuximab and analyzed for biological features.

Assessment of celecoxib pharmacodynamics in pancreatic cancer.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are being developed as chemopreventive and anticancer agents. This study aimed to determine the biological effect of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib in pancreatic cancer as an early step to the further development of the agent in this disease. Eight patients scheduled for resection of an infiltrating adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were randomized to receive celecoxib at a dose of 400 mg twice daily or placebo for 5 to 15 days before the surgery.