Familial hepatic rupture in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in pregnancy with atypical thromboses.

This case highlights the importance of genetic testing over fibroblast testing and presents the first published thromboelastometry data in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Critical illness aspects of heatstroke: A hot topic.

Heatstroke represents the most severe end of the heat illness spectrum, and is increasingly seen in those undergoing exercise or exertion ('exertional heatstroke') and those exposed to high ambient temperatures, for example in heatwaves ('classical heatstroke'). Both forms may be associated with significant thermal injury, leading to organ dysfunction and the need for admission to an intensive care unit. The process may be exacerbated by translocation of bacteria or endotoxin through an intestinal wall rendered more permeable by the hyperthermia.

Simulation of ICD-9 to ICD-10-CM Transition for Family Medicine: Simple or Convoluted?

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the transition from International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), to Interactional Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), on family medicine and to identify areas where additional training might be required.

Methods: Family medicine ICD-9-CM codes were obtained from an Illinois Medicaid data set (113,000 patient visits and $5.5 million in claims).

A pilot study of JI-101, an inhibitor of VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β, and EphB4 receptors, in combination with everolimus and as a single agent in an ovarian cancer expansion cohort.

JI-101 is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 2 (VEGFR-2), platelet derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFR-β), and ephrin type-B receptor 4 (EphB4). None of the currently approved angiogenesis inhibitors have been reported to inhibit EphB4, and therefore, JI-101 has a novel mechanism of action. We conducted a pilot trial to assess the pharmacokinetics (PK), tolerability, and efficacy of JI-101 in combination with everolimus in advanced cancers, and pharmacodynamics (PD), tolerability, and efficacy of JI-101 in ovarian cancer.

Squamous non-small cell lung cancer as a distinct clinical entity.

Traditionally, the treatment of lung cancer has been based on histologic type [non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer], performance status, and stage of disease. However, more recently, treatment decisions are being made based on molecular and histologic characteristics of the tumor. Specifically, the subclassification of NSCLC as squamous or nonsquamous is important in the context of newer treatments because clinical data have demonstrated differences in the tolerability and activity of these agents.

Emerging molecularly targeted therapies in castration refractory prostate cancer.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with medical or surgical castration is the mainstay of therapy in men with metastatic prostate cancer. However, despite initial responses, almost all men eventually develop castration refractory metastatic prostate cancer (CRPC) and die of their disease. Over the last decade, it has been recognized that despite the failure of ADT, most prostate cancers maintain some dependence on androgen and/or androgen receptor (AR) signaling for proliferation.

Outcomes in 144 patients with colorectal cancer treated in a phase I clinic: the MD Anderson Cancer Center experience.

Background: Patients with advanced colorectal cancer have a poor prognosis once standard therapies fail. This retrospective study presents the characteristics and outcomes in 144 patients treated in phase I clinical trials.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcomes in 144 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer referred to the phase I clinic at MD Anderson.

Identification of a metagenome-derived esterase with high enantioselectivity in the kinetic resolution of arylaliphatic tertiary alcohols.

35 metagenome-derived esterases bearing a GGG(A)X motif were screened for activity and enantioselectivity in the hydrolysis of a range of tertiary alcohol acetates. Most of the active esterases showed little or no enantioselectivity in the hydrolysis of the terpinyl acetate, linalyl acetate and 3-methylpent-1-yn-3-yl acetate. However, one esterase showed excellent enantioselectivity (E > 100) in the kinetic resolution of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-phenylbut-3-yn-2-yl acetate as confirmed by a preparative scale reaction.