Report from the 20th annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; 28-29 September 2018.

The 20th annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 28-29 September 2018. This interactive multidisciplinary conference is attended by health care professionals from across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) who are involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. In addition, invited speakers from other provinces participate. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, and allied health care professionals participated in presentations and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of colorectal cancers.

Biosynthetic potential of sesquiterpene synthases: product profiles of Egyptian Henbane premnaspirodiene synthase and related mutants.

The plant terpene synthase (TPS) family is responsible for the biosynthesis of a variety of terpenoid natural products possessing diverse biological functions. TPSs catalyze the ionization and, most commonly, rearrangement and cyclization of prenyl diphosphate substrates, forming linear and cyclic hydrocarbons. Moreover, a single TPS often produces several minor products in addition to a dominant product. We characterized the catalytic profiles of Hyoscyamus muticus premnaspirodiene synthase (HPS) and compared it with the profile of a closely related TPS, Nicotiana tabacum 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (TEAS). The profiles of two previously studied HPS and TEAS mutants, each containing nine interconverting mutations, dubbed HPS-M9 and TEAS-M9, were also characterized. All four TPSs were compared under varying temperature and pH conditions. In addition, we solved the X-ray crystal structures of TEAS and a TEAS quadruple mutant complexed with substrate and products to gain insight into the enzymatic features modulating product formation. These informative structures, along with product profiles, provide new insight into plant TPS catalytic promiscuity.

"Nurse, my head hurts": a review of childhood headaches.

Headache, a frequent occurrence during childhood, can have a number of etiologies. Most headaches are benign, but all require appropriate assessment. Common types include sinusitis, migraine, and muscle contraction (tension). Headache assessment includes both history and physical examination. The headache history consists of the history of present illness, past history, family history, and environmental and social history. Physical examination begins with general observation and vital sign measurement and proceeds to specific inspection of the head, neck, and facial structures. The nursing interventions carried out are dependent on the interpretation of assessment findings. Pharmacologic interventions, commonly acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may be appropriate if pain management protocols exist. Nonpharmacologic strategies for headache relief include reassurance, rest, ingestion of simple and complex carbohydrate foods, relaxation exercises, or home care. Children with migraine headaches benefit from specific interventions, and children exhibiting headache warning signs should have emergency measures instituted.

Utilization of biomacromolecular in vitro assay systems in the prediction of in vivo toxic responses.

Target biomacromolecular assay systems utilize as endpoints quantifiable alterations in key macromolecules elicited by various chemicals and formulations. The EYTEX Assay System, an example of a target biomacromolecular test method, has been used to predict the in vivo ocular irritancy potential of chemicals and formulations. The biomacromolecular reagent is a standardized matrix which can be produced routinely. One hundred test chemicals, representing diverse chemical classes with a wide range of toxic responses in vivo, were evaluated in the EYTEX system. In vitro results were compared to maximum 24-hour Draize scores and Draize classifications. The concordance of the in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated the relevance of the alteration of the EYTEX macromolecular matrix to the prediction of in vivo ocular irritation. The relevance of the in vitro endpoint of turbidity of the EYTEX matrix to in vivo ocular irritation has thus been demonstrated for a large number of test agents in other evaluation studies (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Integration of macromolecular-based test methods with in vitro cytotoxicity or cellular response methods may provide complementary information about mechanisms of target-induced toxicity. The target biomacromolecular assay systems which provide standardized, reproducible reagents are valuable components of test batteries.

Effects of Freund's complete adjuvant and ovalbumin sensitization on the pharmacological reactivity of isolated guinea-pig trachea.

Tracheal strips were obtained from guinea-pigs injected with ovalbumin alone, ovalbumin incorporated into Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), or FCA alone. There was no difference (P greater than 0.05) in amplitude of ovalbumin-induced contractile responses in tracheas from antigen sensitized and antigen + FCA sensitized animals. Although partial contraction of the muscle with carbachol (ED50) was unaffected by the various treatments, the relaxation responses to isoprenaline, histamine (H2-stimulation) and theophylline were impaired in the group receiving the ovalbumin + FCA sensitization regimen. These results are suggestive of an abnormal response associated with a defective cAMP system in this group.

Specificity of an immunofluorescent test for identification of type specific ragweed antibodies.

An immunofluorescent test using ragweed pollen grains for identification of immunolglobulin type-specific rag weed antibodies is described. The test measured effectively antibody specificity produced by immunotherapy with Allpyral. Repeating the test after ragweed inhibition and the use of an unrelated pollen grain verified the specificity of the test.