A pilot study of bevacizumab-based therapy in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas and diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.

Although bevacizumab has not proven effective in adults with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas (HGG), feasibility in newly diagnosed children with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) or HGG has not been reported in a prospective study. In a safety and feasibility study, children and young adults with newly diagnosed HGG received radiotherapy (RT) with bevacizumab (10 mg/kg: days 22, 36) and temozolomide (75-90 mg/m(2)/day for 42 days) followed by bevacizumab (10 mg/kg, days 1, 15), irinotecan (125 mg/m(2), days 1, 15) and temozolomide (150 mg/m(2)/day days 1-5). DIPG patients did not receive temozolomide.

Application and validation of approaches for the predictive hazard assessment of realistic pesticide mixtures.

In freshwater systems located in agricultural areas, organisms are exposed to a multitude of toxicologically and structurally different pesticides. For regulatory purposes it is of major importance whether the combined hazard of these substances can be predictively assessed from the single substance toxicity. For artificially designed multi-component mixtures, it has been shown that the mixture toxicity can be predicted by concentration addition (CA) in case of similarly acting substances and by independent action (IA), if mixtures are composed of dissimilarly acting substances.

Joint algal toxicity of phenylurea herbicides is equally predictable by concentration addition and independent action.

Photosynthesis-inhibiting phenylurea derivatives, such as diuron, are widely used as herbicides. Diuron concentrations clearly exceeding the predicted-no-effect concentration have been regularly measured in European freshwater systems. The frequently observed exposure to mixtures of phenylureas additionally increases the hazard to aquatic primary producers.

Predictability of combined effects of eight chloroacetanilide herbicides on algal reproduction.

Chloroacetanilides are pre-emergence herbicides for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. As a result of their extensive use, residues are often found in surface waters. Observed simultaneous occurrence of different chloroacetanilide herbicides gives reason for concern about potential combination effects on aquatic non-target organisms.