Betibeglogene autotemcel gene therapy in patients with transfusion-dependent, severe genotype β-thalassaemia (HGB-212): a non-randomised, multicentre, single-arm, open-label, single-dose, phase 3 trial.

Background: Transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia (TDT) is a severe disease, resulting in lifelong blood transfusions, iron overload, and associated complications. Betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel) gene therapy uses autologous haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) transduced with BB305 lentiviral vector to enable transfusion independence.

Methods: HGB-212 was a non-randomised, multicentre, single-arm, open-label, phase 3 study of beti-cel in patients with TDT conducted at eight centres in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the UK, and the USA.

In Situ Growth of Sodium Manganese Hexacyanoferrate on Carbon Nanotubes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium manganese hexacyanoferrate (NaMnHCF) has emerged as a research hotspot among Prussian blue analogs for sodium-ion battery cathode materials due to its advantages of high voltage, high specific capacity, and abundant raw materials. However, its practical application is limited by its poor electronic conductivity. In this study, we aim to solve this problem through the in situ growth of NaMnHCF on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a simple coprecipitation method.

The Pillar Effect of Large-Size Alkaline Ions on the Electrochemical Stability of Sodium Manganese Hexacyanoferrate for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium manganese hexacyanoferrate (NaMnHCF) is an attractive candidate as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its low cost and high energy density. However, its practical application is hindered by poor electrochemical stability caused by the Jahn-Teller effect of Mn and the unstable structure of NaMnHCF. Here, this paper aims to address this issue by introducing highly stable AMnHCF (where A = K, Rb, or Cs) through a facile method to composite with NaMnHCF.

Extensively Drug-Resistant Typhoidal Salmonellae: Are These Bugs Swarming Into Suburban and Rural Areas of Pakistan?

Background Typhoid is a serious public health concern with increasing antibiotic resistance. Early suspicion and choice of susceptible antibiotics are key to avoiding the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. We have carried out this study to assess the antibiotic sensitivity of typhoidal salmonellae in Kharian, Pakistan.

Recent Development in Separators for High-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are promising energy storage devices for integrating renewable resources and high power applications, owing to their high energy density, light weight, high flexibility, slow self-discharge rate, high rate charging capability, and long battery life. LIBs work efficiently at ambient temperatures, however, at high-temperatures, they cause serious issues due to the thermal fluctuation inside batteries during operation. The separator is a key component of batteries and is crucial for the sustainability of LIBs at high-temperatures.

Tyrosinase (TYR) gene sequencing and literature review reveals recurrent mutations and multiple population founder gene mutations as causative of oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) in Pakistani families.

Purpose: To investigate eight previously unreported Pakistani families with genetically undefined OCA for mutations in TYR.

Methods: Sanger sequencing of TYR has been performed in eight families with OCA phenotype. Mutation analysis was performed to establish the pathogenic role of novel mutation.

Carbon-Tungsten Disulfide Composite Bilayer Separator for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

A bilayer separator based on cost-effective carbon-tungsten disulfide composite and commercial separators is developed in this work. The C-WS separator reduces the shuttling effect and increases the cycle life of the battery because of the excellent adsorption capability of polar WS to polysulfides. Furthermore, conductive carbon substantially enhances the ionic conductivity of (1 × 10 S cm).

Surgical-pathological findings in type 1 and 2 endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study on GOG-210 protocol.

Objective: To report clinical and pathologic relationships with disease spread in endometrial cancer patients.

Methods: Surgical candidates with uterine cancer (adenocarcinoma or carcinosarcoma) who were eligible to participate in a surgical pathological study to create a clinically annotated tissue biorepository to support translational and clinical research studies. All patients were to undergo a hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Endometrial Carcinoma Mortality and Recurrence.

Background: Recent data suggest that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be associated with reductions in endometrial cancer risk, yet very few have examined whether their use is related to prognosis among endometrial cancer patients.

Methods: Study subjects comprised 4374 participants of the NRG Oncology/Gynecology Oncology Group 210 Study with endometrial carcinoma who completed a presurgical questionnaire that assessed history of regular prediagnostic NSAID use and endometrial cancer risk factors. Recurrences, vital status, and causes of death were obtained from medical records and cancer registries.

FGFR2 mutations are associated with poor outcomes in endometrioid endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

Purpose: Activating FGFR2 mutations have been identified in ~10% of endometrioid endometrial cancers (ECs). We have previously reported that mutations in FGFR2 are associated with shorter disease free survival (DFS) in stage I/II EC patients. Here we sought to validate the prognostic importance of FGFR2 mutations in a large, multi-institutional patient cohort.

Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Bevacizumab in Advanced and Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adding bevacizumab to paclitaxel and carboplatin and as maintenance in a larger cohort of patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: We retrospectively identified endometrial cancer patients treated with paclitaxel (175 mg/m per 3 hours), carboplatin (area under the curve, 5) and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) and maintenance bevacizumab treated in a post-protocol treatment cohort and evaluated them with our previously published phase 2 trial of this regimen.

Results: Twenty-seven additional patients were identified; 19 received the regimen as first-line therapy, and 8 received the regimen as second-line therapy after prior paclitaxel and carboplatin.

Utility of PET/CT to Evaluate Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Metastasis in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer: Results of ACRIN 6671/GOG 0233 Trial.

Purpose To assess the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) combined with diagnostic contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in detecting lymph node (LN) metastasis in high-risk endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods This prospective multicenter HIPAA-compliant study had institutional review board approval, and all participants gave written informed consent. Data were accrued between January 2010 and June 2013.

Clinicopathologic Significance of Mismatch Repair Defects in Endometrial Cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study.

Purpose: The clinicopathologic significance of mismatch repair (MMR) defects in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) has not been definitively established. We undertook tumor typing to classify MMR defects to determine if MMR status is prognostic or predictive.

Methods: Primary EECs from NRG/GOG0210 patients were assessed for microsatellite instability (MSI), MLH1 methylation, and MMR protein expression.

Utility of PET-CT to evaluate retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in advanced cervical cancer: Results of ACRIN6671/GOG0233 trial.

Objective: To assess if FDG PET combined with diagnostic CT improves diagnostic CT accuracy to detect lymph node (LN) metastasis in advanced cervical cancer.

Methods: A prospective HIPAA compliant ACRIN/GOG multicenter trial was conducted. Patients underwent concurrent diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT (DCT) and PET and pelvic/abdominal lymphadenectomy.

Combined Microsatellite Instability, MLH1 Methylation Analysis, and Immunohistochemistry for Lynch Syndrome Screening in Endometrial Cancers From GOG210: An NRG Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology Group Study.

Purpose: The best screening practice for Lynch syndrome (LS) in endometrial cancer (EC) remains unknown. We sought to determine whether tumor microsatellite instability (MSI) typing along with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and MLH1 methylation analysis can help identify women with LS.

Patients And Methods: ECs from GOG210 patients were assessed for MSI, MLH1 methylation, and mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression.

Expression Patterns of the Wnt Pathway Inhibitors Dickkopf3 and Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins 1 and 4 in Endometrial Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the differential expression patterns of the wingless-type (Wnt) pathway inhibitors Dkk3 (Dickkopf 3), SFRP1 (secreted frizzled-related protein 1), and SFRP4 in normal müllerian tissue and endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma specimens.

Methods: Messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of the Wnt pathway inhibitors Dkk3, SFRP1, and SFRP4 were evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. A total of 87 human tissue specimens were obtained from 60 women who participated in Gynecologic Oncology Group protocol 210.

Associations between etiologic factors and mortality after endometrial cancer diagnosis: the NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group 210 trial.

Background: Few studies have analyzed relationships between risk factors for endometrial cancer, especially with regard to aggressive (non-endometrioid) histologic subtypes, and prognosis. We examined these relationships in the prospective NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group 210 trial.

Methods: Prior to surgery, participants completed a questionnaire assessing risk factors for gynecologic cancers.

MICROBIOLOGICAL PATTERN OF VENTILATOR ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA.

Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important and common complication of mechanically ventilated patients. It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Intensive Care Units (ICU) worldwide. The aim of study was to determine the pattern of bacteria involved in VAP in intensive care unit of Jinnah hospital Lahore.

Assessing the prognostic role of ATR mutation in endometrioid endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

Objective: We sought to validate the clinicopathologic implications and prognostic significance of ATR (ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related) mutation in patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer and defective DNA mismatch repair enrolled in a cooperative group molecular staging study of endometrial cancer.

Methods: After pathology review, only endometrioid tumors with high neoplastic cellularity (≥70%) and high quality DNA for molecular analyses were included. MSI (microsatellite instability) typing was performed and the target sequence in exon 10 of ATR was evaluated by direct sequencing in all MSI-high tumors.

Frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of acinetobacter species isolated from pus and pus swab specimens.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Acinetobacter species isolated from pus and pus swab specimens at a tertiary care setting.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from July 2008 to July 2012.

Batchwise dyeing of bamboo cellulose fabric with reactive dye using ultrasonic energy.

Bamboo is a regenerated cellulose fiber usually dyed with reactive dyes. This paper presents results of the batchwise dyeing of bamboo fabric with reactive dyes by ultrasonic (US) and conventional (CN) dyeing methods. The study was focused at comparing the two methods for dyeing results, chemicals, temperature and time, and effluent quality.

In vitro activity of fosfomycin tromethamine against extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing urinary tract bacteria.

Objective: To determine the in vitro activity of Fosfomycin tromethamine against extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing uropathogens.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from October 2011 to October 2012.

Cationic starch (Q-TAC) pre-treatment of cotton fabric: influence on dyeing with reactive dye.

Reactive dyes require high concentrations of an electrolyte to improve dye-fiber interaction, leading to the discharge of harmful effluent. One approach to reduce this unsafe release is treatment of the cotton fabric with cationic chemical reagents. This paper reports on the treatment of cotton fabric with cationic starch (Q-TAC), a commercial product, by batchwise method and pad batch method for the first time prior to reactive dyeing process.

Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated from patients with urinary tract infection.

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial pathogens in the patients of urinary tract infection reporting at a tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: Laboratory based study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from January to December 2012.

Phase III randomized trial of weekly cisplatin and irradiation versus cisplatin and tirapazamine and irradiation in stages IB2, IIA, IIB, IIIB, and IVA cervical carcinoma limited to the pelvis: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

Purpose: This prospective, randomized phase III intergroup trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group and National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group was designed to test the effectiveness and safety of adding the hypoxic cell sensitizer tirapazamine (TPZ) to standard cisplatin (CIS) chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced cervix cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients with locally advanced cervix cancer were randomly assigned to CIS chemoradiotherapy versus CIS/TPZ chemoradiotherapy. Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).