Ending preventable maternal mortality: phase II of a multi-step process to develop a monitoring framework, 2016-2030.

Background: In February 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) released "Strategies toward ending preventable maternal mortality (EPMM)" (EPMM Strategies), a direction-setting report outlining global targets and strategies for reducing maternal mortality in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) period. In May 2015, the EPMM Working Group outlined a plan to develop a comprehensive monitoring framework to track progress toward the achievement of these targets and priorities. This monitoring framework was developed in two phases.

Novel anti-myeloma immunotherapies targeting the SLAM family of receptors.

Treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) has significantly advanced in the last decade with the introduction of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory therapies. Unfortunately, MM continues to cause significant morbidity and most patients eventually succumb to the disease. As in other areas of cancer, immunotherapy in MM has also evolved and holds promise to deliver long-lasting remissions or even cure.

Elotuzumab as a novel anti-myeloma immunotherapy.

Treatment of multiple myeloma has undergone significant change in the last decade with the introduction of new immunomodulatory agents, proteasome inhibitors, and immunotherapeutic approaches. Elotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CS1, which is a member of the SLAM (Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule) family of proteins, expressed on the surface of myeloma plasma cells. Here we review the preclinical investigations that led to the development of elotuzumab and the clinical studies that resulted in its approval for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) therapy for multiple myeloma.

The introduction of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells has revolutionized immunotherapy and cancer treatment as a whole. However, so far, clinical efficacy has only been demonstrated for CD19-positive B cell lymphomas. For Multiple Myeloma (MM), the second most common haematological malignancy, there are currently no clinical results supporting the usefulness of the adoptive transfer of CAR-modified T cells.

CD229 is expressed on the surface of plasma cells carrying an aberrant phenotype and chemotherapy-resistant precursor cells in multiple myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell (PC) malignancy, which despite significant therapeutic advances, is still considered incurable. This is due to the persistence of chemotherapy-resistant minimal residual disease in the patients' bone marrow (BM) after an effective induction therapy. Immunotherapies targeting surface molecules expressed on the bulk of tumor cells and the chemotherapy-resistant, myeloma-propagating cells could play a central role in this clinical setting.

Association of umbilical coiling index by colour Doppler ultrasonography at 18-22 weeks of gestation and perinatal outcome.

Objective: To study the association between antenatal umbilical coiling index (aUCI) and perinatal outcome.

Methods: 600 primigravidas with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies had an ultrasonography between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation for aUCI by colour Doppler. The aUCI was calculated as the reciprocal of the distance between a pair of coils.