MRI-guided optimisation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy duration in stage II-III HER2-positive breast cancer (TRAIN-3): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study.

Background: Patients with stage II-III HER2-positive breast cancer have good outcomes with the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and HER2-targeted agents. Although increasing the number of chemotherapy cycles improves pathological complete response rates, early complete responses are common. We investigated whether the duration of chemotherapy could be tailored on the basis of radiological response.

Lipids, apolipoproteins, and their ratios in relation to cardiovascular events with statin treatment.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the principal target of lipid-lowering therapy, but recent evidence has suggested more appropriate targets. We compared the relationships of on-treatment levels of LDL cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, as well as ratios of total/HDL cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B/A-I, with the occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients receiving statin therapy.

Methods And Results: A post hoc analysis was performed that combined data from 2 prospective, randomized clinical trials in which 10,001 ("Treating to New Targets") and 8888 ("Incremental Decrease in End Points through Aggressive Lipid Lowering") patients with established coronary heart disease were assigned to usual-dose or high-dose statin treatment.

Quantification of protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in dried blood spots by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A bioanalytical method for the determination of most commonly prescribed protease inhibitors (atazanavir, darunavir, lopinavir and ritonavir) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (efavirenz and nevirapine) was developed and validated according to FDA guidelines. In brief, dried blood spots were punched out of a collection paper with a 0.25 in.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein particle size, and apolipoprotein A-I: significance for cardiovascular risk: the IDEAL and EPIC-Norfolk studies.

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the relationship of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL particle size, and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) with the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD), with a focus on the effect of very high values of these parameters.

Background: High plasma levels of HDL-C and apoA-I are inversely related to the risk of CAD. However, recent data suggest that this relationship does not hold true for very high HDL-C levels, particularly when a preponderance of large HDL particles is observed.

ApoB/A1 and LDL-C/HDL-C and the prediction of cardiovascular risk in statin-treated patients.

Background: It is generally accepted that low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or calculated ratios such as LDL-C to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (LDL-C/HDL-C) are useful predictors of risk of cardiovascular disease in the primary as well as in the secondary prevention setting. However, there is accumulating evidence that the ratio of the corresponding apolipoproteins (apoB/A1) might be superior in some populations. Little is known with regard to the prognostic significance of apoB/A1 in patients treated with statins according to the guidelines.