Tandem versus single haematopoietic stem cell transplant and BV maintenance in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: A matched cohort analysis from the LYSA.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the standard curative treatment for patients with high-risk relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R HL). The AETHERA study showed survival gain with Brentuximab Vedotin (BV) maintenance after ASCT in BV-naive patients, which was recently confirmed in the retrospective AMAHRELIS cohort, including a majority of BV-exposed patients. However, this approach has not been compared to intensive tandem auto/auto or auto/allo transplant strategies, which were used before BV approval. Here, we matched BV maintenance (AMAHRELIS) and tandem SCT (HR2009) cohorts, and observed that BV maintenance was associated with better survival outcome in patients with HR R/R HL.

Preferences of different breast reduction techniques: Survey of board-certified plastic surgeons.

Background: Breast reduction is a common and safe procedure with predicted cosmetic outcomes. Many techniques have evolved over the recent decades. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine what type of breast reduction techniques are currently preferred among board certificated Saudi plastic surgeons and assess the surgeons' satisfaction, surgeon-reported patient satisfaction, and complication rates post breast reduction with the preferred techniques. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. The questionnaire was adapted from previously published studies and distributed to a small group before full-scale distribution to Saudi plastic surgeons by email and communication groups. Results: The mean age of the participants was 45.4 (± 8.9). Most participants were males (82%), and the majority held a Saudi board (44%), and 20% held a Canadian board. Significant differences between different board certifications, held fellowship, and years of experience emerged in terms of surgical preferences. The two most common complications reported by surgeons were suture splitting (34%) and excess scarring (24%). Conclusions: In Saudi Arabia, inverted T resection patterns with superior or superomedial pedicle designs are the standard techniques used in breast reduction, with higher satisfaction rates and fewer complications. Surgical preferences were significantly different between surgeons based on their training and held fellowships.

Two triterpene saponins from Achyranthes bidentata.

Bidentatoside II(1) and chikusetsusaponin V methyl ester (2) are two further triterpene saponins isolated from the roots of Achyranthes bidentata. Chemical and homo and heteronuclear two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques have led to the structural elucidation of 1 which is a new seco-glycoside of oleanolic acid and the full 1H- and 13C-NMR assignments of 2. These compounds did not show any potentiation of the in vitro cytotoxicity of cisplatin in the HT 29 human colon cancer cell line.

Bidentatoside I, a new triterpene saponin from Achyranthes bidentata.

Bidentatoside I (1) is a new triterpene saponin bearing an unusual dioxopropionic acid unit, isolated from the roots of Achyranthes bidentata. Structural elucidation was performed mainly by chemical and homo- and heteronuclear 2D NMR techniques. This compound did not show any potentiation of the in vitro cytotoxicity of cisplatin in the HT 29 human colon cancer cell line.

A new major triterpene saponin from the roots of Cucurbita foetidissima.

Foetidissimoside B (1), a novel triterpene saponin, was isolated from the roots of Cucurbita foetidissima. Based on spectroscopic data, especially direct and long-range heteronuclear 2D NMR analysis and on chemical transformations, the structure of 1 was elucidated as 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-echinocystic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->3)-[beta- D-xylopyranosyl (1-->4)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside . Compound 1 did not show any ability to potentiate in vitro cisplatin cytotoxicity in a human colon cancer cell line.