A Bayesian quantile joint modeling of multivariate longitudinal and time-to-event data.

Linear mixed models are traditionally used for jointly modeling (multivariate) longitudinal outcomes and event-time(s). However, when the outcomes are non-Gaussian a quantile regression model is more appropriate. In addition, in the presence of some time-varying covariates, it might be of interest to see how the effects of different covariates vary from one quantile level (of outcomes) to the other, and consequently how the event-time changes across different quantiles.

Maintenance Treatment in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Clinical Primer.

Cure rates in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) currently approach 90% in the developed world. Treatment involves 6-8 mo of intensive multi-drug chemotherapy followed by 24 mo of maintenance treatment (ALL-MT). The cornerstone of ALL-MT is the daily administration of oral 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), a purine analogue.

Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Outcomes for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have improved worldwide to >85%. For those who relapse, outcomes have remained static at ~50% making relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia one of the leading causes of death in childhood cancers. Those relapsing within 18 mo in the bone marrow have a particularly dismal outcome.

A Bayesian joint model for multivariate longitudinal and time-to-event data with application to ALL maintenance studies.

The most common type of cancer diagnosed among children is the Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). A study was conducted by Tata Translational Cancer Research Center (TTCRC) Kolkata, in which 236 children (diagnosed as ALL patients) were treated for the first two years (approximately) with two standard drugs (6MP and MTx) and were then followed nearly for the next 3 years. The goal is to identify the longitudinal biomarkers that are associated with time-to-relapse, and also to assess the effectiveness of the drugs.

Comparative treatment costs of risk-stratified therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in India.

Background: To evaluate the treatment cost and cost effectiveness of a risk-stratified therapy to treat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in India.

Methods: The cost of total treatment duration was calculated for a retrospective cohort of ALL children treated at a tertiary care facility. Children were risk stratified into standard (SR), intermediate (IR) and high (HR) for B-cell precursor ALL, and T-ALL.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Thioamide Directed C(arene)-H Annulation with Ynamide: Regioselective Access to 2-Amidoindenones.

Demonstrated herein is an unprecedented thioamide-directed cobalt (Co)-catalyzed umpolung annulation of sulfoximines enabled aryl thioamide with ynamide for the synthesis of highly substituted 2-amidoindenones. The cyclization is regioselective, making β-C-C and α-C-CO bonds. The transformation is even successful on a gram scale, exhibiting broad scope with labile functional group tolerance and constructing 43 unusual 2-amidoindenones of structural diversity.

A 6--dig Thiolative Cyclization of Yne-Ynamides: Access to Thiodihydropyridin-2-ones.

A straightforward regioselective intramolecular 6--dig cyclization of yne-tethered ynamide is herein developed. The reaction involves an intramolecular enolate attack of ketene--acetals, generated in situ from yne-ynamide and methanesulfonic acid, to the alkyne moiety activated by a sulfonium cation. The transformation enables access to structurally diverse 5-(arylthio)-3,6-dihydropyridin-2(3)-ones with broad functional group compatibility.

Activity and toxicity of intramuscular 1000 iu/m polyethylene glycol-E. coli L-asparaginase in the UKALL 2003 and UKALL 2011 clinical trials.

In successive UK clinical trials (UKALL 2003, UKALL 2011) for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), polyethylene glycol-conjugated E. coli L-asparaginase (PEG-EcASNase) 1000 iu/m was administered intramuscularly with risk-stratified treatment. In induction, patients received two PEG-EcASNase doses, 14 days apart.

Cationic-palladium catalyzed regio- and stereoselective syn-1,2-dicarbofunctionalization of unsymmetrical internal alkynes.

π-Extended tetrasubstituted olefins are widely found motifs in natural products, leading drugs, and agrochemicals. Thus, development of modular strategies for the synthesis of complex all-carbon-substituted olefins always draws attention. The difunctionalization of unsymmetrical alkynes is an attractive approach but it has remained faced with regioselectivity issues.

Protocol for ICiCLe-ALL-14 (InPOG-ALL-15-01): a prospective, risk stratified, randomised, multicentre, open label, controlled therapeutic trial for newly diagnosed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in India.

Background: In the west, survival following treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) approaches 90%. Outcomes in India do not exceed 70%. To address this disparity, the Indian Collaborative Childhood Leukaemia group (ICiCLe) developed in 2013 a contemporary treatment protocol for uniform risk-stratified management of first presentation ALL based on cytogenetics and minimal residual disease levels (MRD).

Yb(iii)-catalysed syn-thioallylation of ynamides.

Reported herein is a syn-thioallylation of ynamides incorporating a sulfide moiety at the α-position and an allyl group at the β-position of the ynamide. The transformation is successful under ytterbium(iii)-catalysis, providing access to highly substituted thioamino-skipped-dienes with broad substrate scope. Thus, tetrasubstituted olefins (with four different functional groups: amide, phenyl, thioaryl/alkyl, and allyl on the carbon centers) are made in a single step from readily accessible ynamides, preserving complete atom economy.

Unsatisfactory quality of E. coli asparaginase biogenerics in India: Implications for clinical outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Background: The biotherapeutic asparaginase is a cornerstone of therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). With limited access to the original native Escherichia coli-derived asparaginase (EcASNase), a variety of EcASNase biogenerics are used in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). The variable quality of these biogenerics potentially influences clinical outcomes.

Enantioselective Gold(I)-Catalyzed Hydrative Cyclizations of -Propargyl-ynamides into 3,6-Dihydropyridinones.

This study discloses the first enantioselective variant of the gold(I)-catalyzed hydrative cyclizations of ynamides, which have been implemented by using bis-gold(I) complexes of chiral diphosphines. Starting from -propargyl-ynamides and water in the presence of -toluenesulfonic acid, the cyclization reactions afford -tosyl-3,6-dihydropyridin-2(1)-ones in good isolated yields and with high levels of stereocontrol (20 examples, enantiomeric ratios up to 94:6).

Gold-Catalyzed syn-1,2-Difunctionalization of Ynamides via Nitrile Activation.

Developed is an unprecedented Au(I)-catalyzed syn-1,2-difunctionalization of ynamides with 2-aminobenzonitriles via nitrile activation. The coupling between ynamides and 2-aminobenzonitriles is explicitly regioselective, providing a straightforward access to 2,4-diamino-substituted quinolines. Density functional theory (DFT) study provides insightful information and rationalizes the reaction pathway.