Publications by authors named "Ramsay R"

Background: TG02 is a peptide-based cancer vaccine eliciting immune responses to oncogenic codon 12/13 mutations. This phase 1 clinical trial (NCT02933944) assessed the safety and immunological efficacy of TG02 adjuvanted by GM-CSF in patients with -mutant colorectal cancer.

Methods: In the interval between completing CRT and pelvic exenteration, patients with resectable mutation-positive, locally advanced primary or current colorectal cancer, received 5-6 doses of TG02/GM-CSF.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Cancers of the central nervous system (CNS) have a unique microenvironment influenced by immune-privilege and interactions between neural, immune, and cancer cells, which form complex communication networks.
  • - This cellular crosstalk mimics normal physiological functions and plays a key role in tumor progression through specific signaling pathways and transcription programs.
  • - At the center of these regulatory processes is the CREB protein, a key transcriptional factor that influences crucial CNS activities like neurogenesis and memory, and is also exploited by CNS tumors for their development and function.
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Purpose: Whilst the treatment paradigm for colorectal cancer has evolved significantly over time, there is still a lack of reliable biomarkers of treatment response. Treatment decisions are based on high-risk features such as advanced TNM stage and histology. The role of the tumour microenvironment, which can influence tumour progression and treatment response, has generated considerable interest.

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Adoption of organoid/tumoroid propagation of normal and malignant intestinal epithelia has provided unparalleled opportunities to compare cell growth factor and signaling dependencies. These 3D structures recapitulate tumours in terms of gene expression regarding the tumor cells but also allow deeper insights into the contribution of the tumour microenvironment (TME). Elements of the TME can be manipulated or added back in the form of infiltrating cytotoxic lymphocytes and/or cancer associated fibroblasts.

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Objectives: To describe acute seizure treatment for the long-term care setting, emphasizing rescue (acute abortive) medications for on-site management of acute unexpected seizures and seizure clusters.

Design: Narrative review.

Setting And Participants: People with seizures in long-term care, including group residences.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers aimed to identify potential biomarkers that predict patient responses to chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer, given the variability in treatment outcomes.
  • The study analyzed RNA sequencing data from tumor and normal biopsies of 39 rectal cancer patients, focusing on differences between complete responders and those with lesser responses.
  • Findings revealed that complete responders had enriched immune-related gene expressions and specific bacteria present in their tumors, suggesting these factors could serve as potential biomarkers for future clinical applications.
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Aim: Peritoneal dissemination of infiltrative appendiceal tumors is a rare and poorly understood phenomenon. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a well-recognized treatment option for selected patients. Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy (NAC) has been shown to be associated with improved overall survival (OS) in colorectal peritoneal metastases but little is known of the impact of this from an appendiceal adenocarcinoma perspective.

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Purpose: Tumor cells thrive by adapting to the signals in their microenvironment. To adapt, cancer cells activate signaling and transcriptional programs and migrate to establish micro-niches, in response to signals from neighboring cells and non-cellular stromal factors. Understanding how the tumor microenvironment evolves during disease progression is crucial to deciphering the mechanisms underlying the functional behavior of cancer cells.

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The covalently bound FAD cofactor in monoamine oxidase (MAO) is reduced by the amine substrate and reoxidized by oxygen. Visible spectroscopy provides a convenient tool to study the interaction of ligands and the kinetics of the half-reactions for mechanistic investigations. Equilibrium redox titrations allow measurement of redox potentials, while rapid mixing experiments allow determination of the rate of reduction by different substrates and of covalent adduct formation by irreversible inactivators.

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Colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM) can be resistant to the chemotherapy agent (oxaliplatin) most employed, up until recently, as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Glutathione-mediated inactivation of oxaliplatin can be substantially reduced by genomic deletion of the gene or pharmacological inhibition of glutamate-cysteine ligase in CRPM tumouroids. These discoveries may rekindle the enthusiasm for HIPEC in concert with cytoreductive surgery, which has been employed to manage patients with this once-nihilistic form of stage-IV disease.

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Background: Pre-clinical studies indicate that dry-cold-carbon-dioxide (DC-CO2) insufflation leads to more peritoneal damage, inflammation and hypothermia compared with humidified-warm-CO (HW-CO2). Peritoneum and core temperature in patients undergoing colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery were compared.

Methods: Sixty-six patients were randomized into laparoscopic groups; those insufflated with DC-CO2 or HW-CO2.

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Background: Stratification of patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM) using RAS/BRAF mutational status may refine patient selection for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). This study aimed to analyse the association of RAS/BRAF status and their variants, with clinicopathological variables and survival outcomes in patients who have undergone CRS ± HIPEC.

Methods: A single centre, peritonectomy database was interrogated for patients with CRPM who underwent peritonectomy procedures between 2010 and 2020.

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Objective: Patients with refractory status epilepticus (RSE) have failed treatment with benzodiazepines and ≥1 second-line intravenous (IV) antiseizure medication (ASM). Guidelines recommend IV anesthesia when second-line ASMs have failed, but potential harms can outweigh the benefits. Novel treatments are needed to stop and durably control RSE without escalation to IV anesthetics.

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Background: The prevalence of elderly patients with resectable colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM) is increasing. This study aimed to compare short and long-term outcomes of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for CRPM in patients above and below 70 years of age.

Methods: This was a retrospective, 10-year analysis of 90-day major morbidity and mortality, and long-term survival.

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Background: Clozapine is the only drug licensed for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) but the real-world clinical and cost-effectiveness of community initiation of clozapine is unclear.

Aims: The aim was to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of community initiation of clozapine.

Method: This was a naturalistic study of community patients recommended for clozapine treatment.

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Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with or without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a well-recognised treatment option for the management of colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM). However, incorporating the routine use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) into this management plan is controversial.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on perioperative morbidity and mortality, and long-term survival of patients with CRPM undergoing CRS and HIPEC.

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Background: Flooding the surgical field with dry cold CO2 during open-chamber cardiac surgery has been used to mitigate air entrainment into the systemic circulation. However, exposing epithelial surfaces to cold, dry gas causes tissue desiccation. This randomized controlled study was designed to investigate whether the use of humidified warm CO2 insufflation into the cardiac cavity could reduce pericardial tissue damage and the incidence of micro-emboli when compared to dry cold CO2 insufflation.

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Background: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare clinical entity, commonly derived from a mucin-producing tumour of the appendix. International consensus is unclear on the role of positron emission tomography (PET) in preoperative staging. This study aimed to assess the ability of preoperative PET in predicting the histological grade of PMP.

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Peritoneal surface malignancies comprise a heterogeneous group of primary tumours, including peritoneal mesothelioma, and peritoneal metastases of other tumours, including ovarian, gastric, colorectal, appendicular or pancreatic cancers. The pathophysiology of peritoneal malignancy is complex and not fully understood. The two main hypotheses are the transformation of mesothelial cells (peritoneal primary tumour) and shedding of cells from a primary tumour with implantation of cells in the peritoneal cavity (peritoneal metastasis).

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