Foveal pit morphology evaluation during optical biometry measurements using a full-eye-length swept-source OCT scan biometer prototype.

Purpose: To assess the scan quality of foveal pit morphology (FPM) and to quantify central retinal thickness (CRT) during routine optical biometry measurements with a full-eye-length swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) scan biometer prototype (IOLMaster700) and to compare these results with standard examinations using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) technique (Cirrus4000 SD-OCT).

Methods: As part of a SS-OCT scan protocol to measure biometric parameters for intraocular lens power calculation, central horizontal 1 mm retinal B scans were taken from phakic (group I) and pseudophakic (group II) nonvitrectomized eyes. To evaluate FPM, macular scans of either examination technique were subjectively analyzed and compared.

Mito-FLAG with Ara-C as bolus versus continuous infusion in recurrent or refractory AML--long-term results of a prospective randomized intergroup study of the East German Study Group Hematology/Oncology (OSHO) and the Study Alliance Leukemia (SAL).

Background: For patients with primary refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), no treatment of choice has until now been defined to date. Cytarabine (Ara-C) is a key drug in the treatment of AML patients, there is still uncertainly regarding its optimal dose and infusion schedule. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the Ara-C infusion schedule used as part of an intensive salvage regimen, in patients with relapsed or refractory AML.

Cinaciguat (BAY 58-2667) improves cardiopulmonary hemodynamics in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: Cinaciguat (BAY 58-2667) is the first of a new class of soluble guanylate cyclase activators in clinical development for acute decompensated heart failure. We aimed to assess the hemodynamic effects, safety, and tolerability of intravenous cinaciguat in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure > or =18 mm Hg).

Methods And Results: After initial dose finding (part A; n=27), cinaciguat was evaluated in the nonrandomized, uncontrolled proof-of-concept part of the study (part B; n=33) using a starting dose of 100 microg/h, which could be titrated depending on hemodynamic response.

PCR-based testing for therapy-related EGFR mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) have been associated with improved response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Two hotspot mutations located in exon 19 and exon 21 account for about 90% of all EGFR mutations.

Materials And Methods: We designed a Bi-PASA (bidirectional PCR amplification of specific alleles) assay to detect the most common exon 19 deletion (codons 746-750) and an allele-specific PCR for the L858R mutation in exon 21.

P53 mutations as an identification marker for the clonal origin of bladder tumors and its recurrences.

The clonality of synchronous and metachronous bladder tumors has been studied for years with controversial results. Some recent studies support the 'polyclonal origin' hypothesis, i.e.