Multimodal decoding of human liver regeneration.

The liver has a unique ability to regenerate1,2; however, in the setting of acute liver failure (ALF), this regenerative capacity is often overwhelmed, leaving emergency liver transplantation as the only curative option3-5. Here, to advance understanding of human liver regeneration, we use paired single-nucleus RNA sequencing combined with spatial profiling of healthy and ALF explant human livers to generate a single-cell, pan-lineage atlas of human liver regeneration. We uncover a novel ANXA2+ migratory hepatocyte subpopulation, which emerges during human liver regeneration, and a corollary subpopulation in a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver regeneration. Interrogation of necrotic wound closure and hepatocyte proliferation across multiple timepoints following APAP-induced liver injury in mice demonstrates that wound closure precedes hepatocyte proliferation. Four-dimensional intravital imaging of APAP-induced mouse liver injury identifies motile hepatocytes at the edge of the necrotic area, enabling collective migration of the hepatocyte sheet to effect wound closure. Depletion of hepatocyte ANXA2 reduces hepatocyte growth factor-induced human and mouse hepatocyte migration in vitro, and abrogates necrotic wound closure following APAP-induced mouse liver injury. Together, our work dissects unanticipated aspects of liver regeneration, demonstrating an uncoupling of wound closure and hepatocyte proliferation and uncovering a novel migratory hepatocyte subpopulation that mediates wound closure following liver injury. Therapies designed to promote rapid reconstitution of normal hepatic microarchitecture and reparation of the gut-liver barrier may advance new areas of therapeutic discovery in regenerative medicine.

Intratumoural expression of deoxycytidylate deaminase or ribonuceotide reductase subunit M1 expression are not related to survival in patients with resected pancreatic cancer given adjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Deoxycytidylate deaminase (DCTD) and ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 (RRM1) are potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers for pyrimidine-based chemotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of DCTD and RRM1 was performed on tissue microarrays representing tumour samples from 303 patients in European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC)-randomised adjuvant trials following pancreatic resection, 272 of whom had received gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid in ESPAC-3(v2), and 31 patients from the combined ESPAC-3(v1) and ESPAC-1 post-operative pure observational groups. RESULTS: Neither log-rank testing on dichotomised strata or Cox proportional hazard regression showed any relationship of DCTD or RRM1 expression levels to survival overall or by treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of either DCTD or RRM1 was not prognostic or predictive in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who had had post-operative chemotherapy with either gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid.

Expression of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) and hENT1 predicts survival in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) tumour expression may provide added value to human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) tumour expression in predicting survival following pyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: DPD and hENT1 immunohistochemistry and scoring was completed on tumour cores from 238 patients with pancreatic cancer in the ESPAC-3(v2) trial, randomised to either postoperative gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5FU/FA). RESULTS: DPD tumour expression was associated with reduced overall survival (hazard ratio, HR = 1.73 [95% confidence interval, CI = 1.21-2.49], p = 0.003). This was significant in the 5FU/FA arm (HR = 2.07 [95% CI = 1.22-3.53], p = 0.007), but not in the gemcitabine arm (HR = 1.47 [0.91-3.37], p = 0.119). High hENT1 tumour expression was associated with increased survival in gemcitabine treated (HR = 0.56 [0.38-0.82], p = 0.003) but not in 5FU/FA treated patients (HR = 1.19 [0.80-1.78], p = 0.390). In patients with low hENT1 tumour expression, high DPD tumour expression was associated with a worse median [95% CI] survival in the 5FU/FA arm (9.7 [5.3-30.4] vs 29.2 [19.5-41.9] months, p = 0.002) but not in the gemcitabine arm (14.0 [9.1-15.7] vs. 18.0 [7.6-15.3] months, p = 1.000). The interaction of treatment arm and DPD expression was not significant (p = 0.303), but the interaction of treatment arm and hENT1 expression was (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: DPD tumour expression was a negative prognostic biomarker. Together with tumour expression of hENT1, DPD tumour expression defined patient subgroups that might benefit from either postoperative 5FU/FA or gemcitabine.

Effect of Brönsted acidic ionic liquid 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride on growth and co-fermentation of glucose, xylose and arabinose by Zymomonas mobilis AX101.

The potential of large-scale lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis to fermentable sugars using ionic liquids has increased interest in this green chemistry route to fermentation for fuel-ethanol production. The ionic liquid 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride compared to other reported ionic liquids has the advantage of hydrolysing lignocellulosic biomass to reducing sugars at catalytic concentrations (≤0·032 mol l-1 ) in a single step. However, effects of this ionic liquid on co-fermentation of glucose, xylose and arabinose to ethanol by recombinant Zymomonas mobilisAX101 has not been studied. Authentic glucose, xylose and arabinose were used to formulate fermentation media at varying catalytic 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride concentrations for batch co-fermentation of the sugars using Z. mobilisAX101. The results showed that at 0·008, 0·016 and 0·032 mol l-1 ionic liquid in the culture medium, cell growth decreased by 10, 27 and 67% respectively compared to the control. Ethanol yields were 62·6, 61·8, 50·5 and 23·1% for the control, 0·008, 0·016 and 0·032 mol l-1 ionic liquid respectively. The results indicate that lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysed using 0·008 mol l-1 of 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride would eliminate an additional separation step and provide a ready to use fermentation substrate. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: This is the first reported study of the effect of the Brönsted acidic ionic liquid 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride on growth and co-fermentation of glucose, xylose and arabinose by Zymomonas mobilisAX101 in batch culture. Growth on and co-fermentation of the sugars by Z. mobilisAX 101 with no significant inhibition by the ionic liquid at the same catalytic amounts of 0·008 mol l-1 used to hydrolyse lignocellulosic biomass to reducing sugars overcome two major hurdles that adversely affect the process economics of large-scale industrial cellulosic fuel ethanol production; the energy-intensive hydrolysis and ionic liquid separation steps.

Beta blockers and improved progression-free survival in patients with advanced HER2 negative breast cancer: a retrospective analysis of the ROSE/TRIO-012 study.

BACKGROUND: Recent retrospective studies suggest that beta-adrenergic blocking drugs (BB) are associated with improved outcomes in patients with a range of cancers. Although limited and discordant data suggest that BB may increase overall survival (OS) in localized breast cancer (BC), there is no information on the effects of BB in women with advanced BC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To explore the association between BB use and BC outcomes, we retrospectively reviewed ROSE/TRIO-012, a double-blinded, multinational phase III trial that randomized 1144 patients with HER2-negative advanced BC to first-line docetaxel in combination with ramucirumab or placebo. We compared progression-free survival (PFS), OS, overall response rate, and clinical benefit rate in patients who received BB to those who did not. RESULTS: 153/1144 (13%) patients received BB; 62% prior to enrolment and 38% began after enrolment. Median PFS in BB treated patients was longer than in patients who did not receive them (10.3 versus 8.3 months; HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.66-0.99; P = 0.038). Patients treated with BB only after enrolment had even higher median PFS (15.5 versus 8.3 months, P < 0.001). In the TNBC subset, median PFS was 13.0 months with BB, compared to 5.2 months without BB (HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.34-0.79; P = 0.002). The benefit of BB intake in PFS was independent of treatment-emergent hypertension (P = 0.476) but associated with treatment arm (P = 0.037). The test for interactions between BB and treatment arm was not significant (P = 0.276). No differences were seen in OS, overall response rate, or clinical benefit rate. A validation dataset analysis had consistent but less substantial improved outcomes for women with node positive operable breast cancer receiving BB in the BCIRG-005 trial. CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory analysis, BB intake was associated with significant improvement in PFS, particularly in patients with TNBC and patients not previously exposed to BB. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT00703326.

Final efficacy and updated safety results of the randomized phase III BEATRICE trial evaluating adjuvant bevacizumab-containing therapy in triple-negative early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this analysis was to assess the long-term impact of adding bevacizumab to adjuvant chemotherapy for early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: Patients eligible for the open-label randomized phase III BEATRICE trial had centrally confirmed triple-negative operable primary invasive breast cancer (pT1a-pT3). Investigators selected anthracycline- and/or taxane-based chemotherapy for each patient. After definitive surgery, patients were randomized 1:1 to receive ≥4 cycles of chemotherapy alone or with 1 year of bevacizumab (5 mg/kg/week equivalent). Stratification factors were nodal status, selected chemotherapy, hormone receptor status, and type of surgery. The primary end point was invasive disease-free survival (IDFS; previously reported). Secondary outcome measures included overall survival (OS) and safety. RESULTS: After 56 months' median follow-up, 293 of 2591 randomized patients had died. There was no statistically significant difference in OS between treatment arms in either the total population (hazard ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-1.17; P = 0.52) or pre-specified subgroups. The 5-year OS rate was 88% (95% CI 86-90%) in both treatment arms. Updated IDFS results were consistent with the primary IDFS analysis. Five-year IDFS rates were 77% (95% CI 75-79%) with chemotherapy alone versus 80% (95% CI 77-82%) with bevacizumab. From 18 months after first study dose to study end, new grade ≥3 adverse events occurred in 4.6% and 4.5% of patients in the two arms, respectively. CONCLUSION: Final OS results showed no significant benefit from bevacizumab therapy for early TNBC. Late-onset toxicities were rare in both groups. Five-year OS and IDFS rates suggest that the prognosis for patients with TNBC is better than previously thought. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT00528567.

Meta-analysis of individual patient safety data from six randomized, placebo-controlled trials with the antiangiogenic VEGFR2-binding monoclonal antibody ramucirumab.

BACKGROUND: Ramucirumab, the human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody receptor antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, has been approved for treating gastric/gastroesophageal junction, non-small-cell lung, and metastatic colorectal cancers. With the completion of six global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trials across multiple tumor types, an opportunity now exists to further establish the safety parameters of ramucirumab across a large patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An individual patient meta-analysis across the six completed phase III trials was conducted and the relative risk (RR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using fixed-effects or mixed-effects models for all-grade and high-grade adverse events (AEs) possibly related to vascular endothelial growth factor pathway inhibition. The number needed to harm was also calculable due to the placebo-controlled nature of all six registration standard trials. RESULTS: A total of 4996 treated patients (N = 2748 in the ramucirumab arm and N = 2248 in the control, placebo arm) were included in this meta-analysis. Arterial thromboembolic events [ATE; all-grade, RR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.3; high-grade (grade ≥3), RR: 0.9, 95% CI 0.5-1.7], venous thromboembolic events (VTE; all-grade, RR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-1.1; high-grade, RR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.2), high-grade bleeding (RR: 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.5), and high-grade gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (RR: 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.7) did not demonstrate a definite increased risk with ramucirumab. A higher percentage of hypertension, proteinuria, low-grade (grade 1-2) bleeding, GI perforation, infusion-related reaction, and wound-healing complications were observed in the ramucirumab arm compared with the control arm. CONCLUSIONS: Ramucirumab may be distinct among antiangiogenic agents in terms of ATE, VTE, high-grade bleeding, or high-grade GI bleeding by showing no clear evidence for an increased risk of these AEs in this meta-analysis of a large and diverse patient population. Ramucirumab is consistent with other angiogenic inhibitors in the risk of developing certain AEs. Clinical Trial Numbers: NCT00917384 (REGARD), NCT01170663 (RAINBOW), NCT01168973 (REVEL), NCT01183780 (RAISE), NCT01140347 (REACH), and NCT00703326 (ROSE).

Long-term outcomes after adjuvant treatment of sequential versus combination docetaxel with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in node-positive breast cancer: BCIRG-005 randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal regimen for adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy is undefined. We compared sequential to concurrent combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide with docetaxel chemotherapy in women with node-positive non-metastatic breast cancer. We report the final, 10-year analysis of disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and long-term safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 3298 women with HER2 nonamplified breast cancer were randomized to doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks for four cycles followed by docetaxel (AC → T) every 3 weeks for four cycles or docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) every 3 weeks for six cycles. The patients received standard radiotherapy and endocrine therapy and were followed up for 10 years with annual clinical evaluation and mammography. RESULTS: The 10-year DFS rates were 66.5% in the AC → T arm and 66.3% in the TAC arm (P = 0.749). OS was 79.9% in the AC → T arm and 78.9% in the TAC arm (P = 0.506). TAC was associated with higher rates of febrile neutropenia, although G-CSF primary prophylaxis greatly reduced this risk. AC → T was associated with a higher rate of myalgia, hand-foot syndrome, fluid retention, and sensory neuropathy. CONCLUSION: This 10-year analysis of the BCIRG-005 trial confirmed that the efficacy of TAC was not superior to AC → T in women with node-positive early breast cancer. The toxicity profiles differ between arms and were consistent with previous reports. The TAC regimen with G-CSF support provides shorter adjuvant treatment duration with less toxicity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00312208.

The Adrenocortical Response to Synthetic ACTH Following a Trek to High Altitude.

Gradual ascent to high altitude is typically associated with reduced resting aldosterone and unchanged cortisol, features that may facilitate acclimatization but are poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate the cortisol and aldosterone response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone at altitude. Eleven subjects underwent a 250 µg short synacthen test at sea-level and again after trekking to 3 600 m in Nepal. Cortisol and aldosterone were measured by conventional assay from blood samples taken immediately prior to the administration of synacthen (T0) and then 30 (T30) and 60 (T60) min later. At 3 600 m resting basal cortisol and aldosterone levels were both significantly lower than they were at sea-level (p=0.004, p=0.003, respectively). Cortisol values at T30 and T60 were not different between sea-level and 3 600 m but the increment after synacthen was significantly greater (p=0.041) at 3 600 m due to a lower basal value. Aldosterone at T30 and T60 was significantly lower (p=0.003 for both) at 3 600 m than at sea-level and the increment following synacthen was also significantly less (p=0.003) at 3 600 m. At 3 600 m there appears to be a divergent adrenal response to synthetic adrenocorticotrophic hormone with an intact cortisol response but a reduced aldosterone response, relative to sea-level. This may reflect a specific effect of hypoxia on aldosterone synthesis and may be beneficial to acclimatization.

Effect of aerobic training on the host systemic milieu in patients with solid tumours: an exploratory correlative study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the effects of exercise on modulation of host factors in cancer patients. We investigated the efficacy of chronic aerobic training on multiple host-related effector pathways in patients with solid tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Paired peripheral blood samples were obtained from 44 patients with solid tumours receiving cytotoxic therapy and synthetic erythropoietin (usual care; n=21) or usual care plus supervised aerobic training (n=23) for 12 weeks. Samples were characterised for changes in immune, cytokine and angiogenic factors, and metabolic intermediates. Aerobic training consisted of three supervised cycle ergometry sessions per week at 60% to 100% of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), 30-45 min per session, for 12 weeks following a nonlinear prescription. RESULTS: The between-group delta change in cardiopulmonary function was +4.1 ml kg (-1) min(-1), favouring aerobic training (P<0.05). Significant pre-post between-group differences for five cytokine and angiogenic factors (HGF, IL-4, macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß (MIP-1ß), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and TNF-α) also favour the aerobic training group (P's<0.05). These reductions occurred in conjunction with nonsignificant group differences for T lymphocytes CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD8(+)/CD45RA (P<0.10). For these factors, circulating concentrations generally increased from baseline to week 12 in the aerobic training group compared with decreases or no change in the usual care group. No significant changes in any metabolic intermediates were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic training alters host availability of select immune-inflammatory effectors in patients with solid tumours; larger confirmatory studies in more homogenous samples are warranted.

Lessons learned while undertaking high altitude medical research in the Himalayas.

Undertaking medical research during military adventurous training expeditions presents a unique set of challenges to medical personnel, and for those considering doing so in the future the task may seem daunting. This article details some of the challenges faced whilst undertaking high altitude research on a recent Defence Medical Services (DMS) adventurous training expedition to the Dhaulagiri circuit in Nepal. By discussing what led to some of the problems encountered, how they were overcome, and in some instances how they could have been avoided in the first place, it is hoped that the article will act as a guide for others who plan on undertaking future research in a similar environment.

Subgroup effects in a randomised trial of different types and doses of exercise during breast cancer chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Trial tested different types and doses of exercise in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Here, we explore potential moderators of the exercise training responses. METHODS: Breast cancer patients initiating chemotherapy (N=301) were randomly assigned to three times a week, supervised exercise of a standard dose of 25-30 min of aerobic exercise, a higher dose of 50-60 min of aerobic exercise, or a higher dose of 50-60 min of combined aerobic and resistance exercise. Outcomes were patient-reported symptoms and health-related fitness. Moderators were baseline demographic, exercise/fitness, and cancer variables. RESULTS: Body mass index moderated the effects of the exercise interventions on bodily pain (P for interaction=0.038), endocrine symptoms (P for interaction=0.029), taxane/neuropathy symptoms (P for interaction=0.013), aerobic fitness (P for interaction=0.041), muscular strength (P for interaction=0.007), and fat mass (P for interaction=0.005). In general, healthy weight patients responded better to the higher-dose exercise interventions than overweight/obese patients. Menopausal status, age, and baseline fitness moderated the effects on patient-reported symptoms. Premenopausal, younger, and fitter patients achieved greater benefits from the higher-dose exercise interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy weight, fitter, and premenopausal/younger breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are more likely to benefit from higher-dose exercise interventions.

Targeting triple-negative breast cancer: optimising therapeutic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a distinct subset of breast cancer (BC) defined by the lack of immunohistochemical expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. It is highly heterogeneous and displays overlapping characteristics with both basal-like and BC susceptibility gene 1 and 2 mutant BCs. This review evaluates the activity of emerging targeted agents in TNBC. DESIGN: A systematic review of PubMed and conference databases was carried out to identify randomised clinical trials reporting outcomes in women with TNBC treated with targeted and platinum-based therapies. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our review identified TNBC studies of agents with different mechanisms of action, including induction of synthetic lethality and inhibition of angiogenesis, growth, and survival pathways. Combining targeted agents with chemotherapy in TNBC produced only modest gains in progression-free survival, and had little impact on survival. Six TNBC subgroups have been identified and found to differentially respond to specific targeted agents. The use of biological preselection to guide therapy will improve therapeutic indices in target-bearing populations. CONCLUSION: Ongoing clinical trials of targeted agents in unselected TNBC populations have yet to produce substantial improvements in outcomes, and advancements will depend on their development in target-selected populations.

Epizootic myocarditis associated with encephalomyocarditis virus in a group of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Six cases of fatal myocarditis associated with encephalomyocarditis virus occurred over a 14-month period in a group of outdoor-housed juvenile rhesus macaques. All animals were younger than 3 years of age and died or were euthanized following acute onset of dyspnea or pulmonary effusion (3 of 6) or were found dead without premonitory signs (3 of 6). Gross findings included pulmonary congestion (6 of 6), variable degrees of pleural effusion (4 of 6), multifocal pale tan foci throughout the myocardium (3 of 6), hepatomegaly and hepatic congestion (3 of 6), and pericardial effusion (1 of 6). Histologically, affected myocardium was infiltrated multifocally by lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic inflammation admixed with necrotic and degenerate myofibers and infrequent mineralization (6 of 6). Pulmonary edema was present in all animals. Encephalomyocarditis virus was confirmed in 6 of 6 hearts by immunohistochemistry, and virus was isolated from one case by polymerase chain reaction. Sequencing of virus isolated from 1 affected animal indicated infection with a novel encephalomyocarditis virus. Encephalomyocarditis virus should be considered as a differential etiology in outbreaks of myocarditis and pulmonary edema in juvenile primates.

Long-term effects of anastrozole on bone mineral density: 7-year results from the ATAC trial.

BACKGROUND: This 'Arimidex', Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial sub-study examined the effects of anastrozole and tamoxifen on bone mineral density (BMD) following 5 years of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Lumbar spine and total hip BMD were assessed at years 6 and 7 in a total of 71 eligible patients. In total, 50 patients had evaluable data. RESULTS: Following anastrozole treatment, the lumbar spine median BMD increased by 2.35% (P=0.04) and 4.02% (P=0.0004) at years 6 and 7, while total hip median BMD increased by 0.71% (P=0.3) and 0.5% (P=0.8). After tamoxifen treatment, lumbar spine median BMD decreased by 0.79% (P=0.2) and 0.30% (P=0.9) at years 6 and 7, while total hip median BMD decreased by 2.09% (P=0.0003) and 2.52% (P=0.0002). Patients with a normal BMD or who were osteopenic at 5 years did not become osteoporotic. CONCLUSIONS: Anastrozole treatment-related bone loss did not continue into the off-treatment follow-up period. The recovery in lumbar spine BMD and absence of further loss at the hip is consistent with the reduction in the annual rate of fracture observed after treatment cessation in the main ATAC trial.

Skin Toxicity in Early Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Field-In-Field Breast Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy versus Helical Inverse Breast Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy: Results of a Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial.

AIMS: Skin toxicity is a common adverse effect of breast radiotherapy. We investigated whether inverse-planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) would reduce the incidence of skin toxicity compared with forward field-in-field breast IMRT (FiF-IMRT) in early stage breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This phase III randomised controlled trial compared whole-breast irradiation with either FiF-IMRT or helical tomotherapy IMRT (HT-IMRT), with skin toxicity as the primary end point. Patients received 50 Gy in 25 fractions and were assessed to compare skin toxicity between treatment arms. RESULTS: In total, 177 patients were available for assessment and the median follow-up was 73.1 months. Inverse IMRT achieved more homogeneous coverage than FiF-IMRT; erythema and moist desquamation were higher with FiF-IMRT compared with HT-IMRT (61% versus 34%; P < 0.001; 33% versus 11%; P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed large breast volume, FiF-IMRT and chemotherapy were independent factors associated with worse acute toxicity. There was no difference between treatment arms in the incidence of late toxicities. The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 96.3% for both FiF-IMRT and HT-IMRT and the 5-year overall survival was 96.3% for FiF-IMRT and 97.4% for HT-IMRT. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed significant reduction in acute skin toxicity using HT-IMRT compared with FiF-IMRT, without significant reduction in late skin toxicities. On the basis of these findings, inverse-planned IMRT could be used in routine practice for whole-breast irradiation with careful plan optimisation to achieve the required dose constraints for organs at risk.

Systemic spironucleosis in 2 immunodeficient rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Spironucleus spp are parasites of fish and terrestrial vertebrates, including mice and turkeys, that rarely cause extraintestinal disease. Two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were experimentally inoculated with simian immunodeficiency virus mac251. Both progressed to simian acquired immune deficiency syndrome within 1 year of inoculation and developed systemic protozoal infections in addition to common opportunistic infections, including rhesus cytomegalovirus, rhesus lymphocryptovirus, and rhesus adenovirus. In the first case, the protozoa were associated with colitis, multifocal abdominal abscessation, and lymphadenitis. In the second case, they were one of a number of organisms associated with extensive pyogranulomatous pneumonia and colitis. Ultrastructural, molecular, and phylogenetic analysis revealed the causative organism to be a species of Spironucleus closely related to Spironucleus meleagridis of turkeys. This report is the first of extraintestinal infection with Spironucleus sp in higher mammals and expands the list of opportunistic infections found in immunocompromised rhesus macaques.

Point-of-care ultrasound at Role 1: is it time for a rethink?

INTRODUCTION: The past 20 years have seen a rapid increase in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use in the prehospital sphere. However, in the British Army there is no POCUS capability in the Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) or deployed Role 1 setting. POCUS can improve diagnostic capability, influence management decisions and transfer destination, and is a useful triage tool in mass casualty management. METHOD: A survey on POCUS use was sent to 279 clinicians working in the Role 1, civilian prehospital and Defence Primary Healthcare environments. Questions explored current levels of experience and training, indications for use and attitudes towards roll out. Results were analysed using a mixed methods approach. RESULTS: There were 124 respondents (279 recipients; 44.4% response rate). 74.2% (92 respondents) had no experience of using POCUS while 9.7% (12 respondents) were classed as frequent users. The four most common indications for prehospital POCUS were abdominal, cardiac and lung imaging and vascular access. The majority of respondents felt that POCUS would add value in the deployed Role 1 environment; this was even more evident in the frequent user group. Common concerns were difficulty maintaining currency, governance burden and uncertainty over impact on management. CONCLUSION: The majority of doctors surveyed feel that POCUS would add value at Role 1 and is a capability that should be developed. The authors will watch with interest the progress of Project MORPHO.

Induction of AIDS-like disease in macaque monkeys with T-cell tropic retrovirus STLV-III.

The T-cell tropic retrovirus of macaque monkeys STLV-III has morphologic, growth, and antigenic properties indicating that it is related to HTLV-III/LAV, the etiologic agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans. Four of six rhesus monkeys died within 160 days of STLV-III inoculation with a wasting syndrome, opportunistic infections, a primary retroviral encephalitis, and immunologic abnormalities including a decrease in T4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes. These data show that an immunodeficiency syndrome can be produced experimentally in a nonhuman primate by an agent from the HTLV-III/LAV group of retroviruses. The STLV-III-macaque system will thus provide a useful model for the study of antiviral agents and vaccine development for human AIDS.

The role of HER2-targeted therapies in women with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.

The role of targeted therapies in the treatment of women with breast cancer has been rapidly evolving. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), was the first HER2-targeted therapy that clearly demonstrated a significant clinical benefit for women with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer (mbc). However, in recent years it has become increasingly apparent that, when trastuzumab is used in the first-line setting in combination with chemotherapy, most women eventually develop progressive disease. Determining the treatment options available to women who have progressed while on trastuzumab therapy has been hampered by a paucity of high-quality published data. In addition, with the standard use of trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting (for eligible HER2-positive patients), the role of anti-HER2 agents for patients who experience a breast cancer relapse has become a clinically relevant question. This manuscript reviews current available data and outlines suggestions from a panel of Canadian oncologists about the use of trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted agents in two key mbc indications:Treatment for women with HER2-positive mbc progressing on trastuzumab (that is, treatment beyond progression)Treatment for women with HER2-positive mbc recurring following adjuvant trastuzumab (that is, re-treatment)The suggestions set out here will continue to evolve as data and future trials with trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted agents emerge.