Effect of Vemurafenib on the Pharmacokinetics of a Single Dose of Digoxin in Patients With BRAFV600 Mutation-Positive Metastatic Malignancy.

The primary objective of this phase 1, open-label, multicenter, 3-period, fixed-sequence study was to evaluate the effect of multiple doses of vemurafenib on the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of digoxin, a probe P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, in patients with BRAFV600 mutation-positive metastatic malignancy. Following a 28-day screening period, patients received a single oral dose of digoxin 0.25 mg on day 1 in period A, oral vemurafenib 960 mg twice daily for 21 days in period B (days 8-28), and a single oral dose of digoxin 0.25 mg on day 29 and vemurafenib 960 mg twice a day for 7 days (days 29-35) in period C. Log-transformed area under the concentration-time curve and peak concentration values for digoxin were compared between periods A (digoxin alone) and C (digoxin + vemurafenib) using an analysis of variance model. Twenty-six patients were evaluated for the primary pharmacokinetic analysis. The geometric mean ratio (period C/period A) of area under the curve to the last measurable concentration for digoxin was 1.82 (90%CI 1.63 to 2.02), and the geometric mean ratio of peak concentrations was 1.47 (90%CI 1.30 to 1.65); the 90%CIs were outside of the equivalence limits of 0.82 to 1.22, indicating an effect of vemurafenib on digoxin. Multiple oral doses of vemurafenib were generally well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to that previously seen in phase 2 and 3 studies of vemurafenib monotherapy. This study confirmed vemurafenib as an inhibitor of P-gp in vivo with a statistically significant drug-drug interaction with digoxin. Caution should be exercised when dosing vemurafenib concurrently with P-gp substrates.

Evaluation of a rapid DNA process with the RapidHIT® ID system using a specialized cartridge for extracted and quantified human DNA.

The turn-around time of urgent crime scene DNA samples is often far longer than desired by law enforcement. Crime scene DNA sample processing involves both complex and routine processing steps. Simplification and integration of the routine steps would dramatically improve turn-around time and reduce the risk of operator contamination. Routine DNA extraction and quantitation is readily available. However, PCR amplification and electrophoretic analysis remain largely manual. Rapid DNA Analysis is a hands-free "swab in - profile out" process which consists of automated DNA extraction, amplification, separation, detection, and allele calling without human intervention. RapidHIT® 200 and RapidHIT ID are rapid DNA systems developed by IntegenX (Pleasanton, CA) and validated for the use of buccal swabs. A new generation of the RapidHIT sample cartridge for RapidHIT ID has been designed and tested which allows the loading of extracted and quantified DNA. RapidHIT EXT sample cartridge allows a user to generate a forensic DNA profile from less than 250 pg of extracted and quantified DNA in less than 90 min with less than one-minute hands-on time. Once the sample is loaded in the RapidHIT EXT sample cartridge, a DNA profile is produced after amplification, detection and automated data analysis. We report on sensitivity, reproducibility, concordance, DNA mixtures and carryover for EXT sample cartridges pre-loaded with GlobalFiler® Express and AmpFLSTR® NGM SElect™ Express, (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) STR chemistries. Purified and quantified DNA from mock crime scene samples were used to demonstrate the utility of these cartridges in an established forensic laboratory.

Validation of a rapid DNA process with the RapidHIT® ID system using GlobalFiler® Express chemistry, a platform optimized for decentralized testing environments.

The RapidHIT® ID is a fully automated sample-to-answer system for short tandem repeat (STR)-based human identification. The RapidHIT ID has been optimized for use in decentralized environments and processes presumed single source DNA samples, generating Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)-compatible DNA profiles in less than 90min. The system is easy to use, requiring less than one minute of hands-on time. Profiles are reviewed using centralized linking software, RapidLINK™ (IntegenX, Pleasanton, CA), a software tool designed to collate DNA profiles from single or multiple RapidHIT ID systems at different geographic locations. The RapidHIT ID has been designed to employ GlobalFiler® Express and AmpFLSTR® NGMSElect™, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA) STR chemistries. The Developmental Validation studies were performed using GlobalFiler® Express with single source reference samples according to Scientific Working Group for DNA Analysis Methods guidelines. These results show that multiple RapidHIT ID systems networked with RapidLINK software form a highly reliable system for wide-scale deployment in locations such as police booking stations and border crossings enabling real-time testing of arrestees, potential human trafficking victims, and other instances where rapid turnaround is essential.

Human males appear more prepared than females to resolve conflicts with same-sex peers.

The aim of the study was to investigate sex differences in proximate mechanisms that precede the termination of conflicts. In Study 1, we asked women and men to report their intensity of anger in response to hypothetical, common transgressions involving a same-sex roommate. Direct verbal and physical aggression elicited the highest-intensity anger for both sexes, although overall women reported more intense anger than men to all transgressions. In Study 2, we examined sex differences in subjective and physiological reactions to a conflict using a role-playing scenario. Following recall of a conflict involving direct aggression and role-playing a reaction to it, compared with men, women reported their anger would dissipate less quickly and they would take longer to reconcile. Women also exhibited increased heart rate, but little change in cortisol, whereas men exhibited little change in heart rate but increased cortisol production. We interpret the results as indicating that women are less prepared than men to resolve a conflict with a same-sex peer.