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Tissue specimen quality assurance is a major issue of precision medicine for rare cancers. However, the laboratory standards and quality of pathological specimens prepared in Asian hospitals remain unknown. To understand the methods in Southeast Asian oncology hospitals and to clarify how pre‐analytics affect the quality of formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) specimens, a questionnaire surveying pre‐analytical procedures (Part I) was administered, quality assessment of immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and DNA/RNA extracted from the representative FFPE specimens from each hospital (Part II) was conducted, and the quality of DNA/RNA extracted from FFPE of rare‐cancer patients for genomic sequencing (Part III) was examined. Quality measurements for DNA/RNA included ΔΔCt, DV200, and cDNA yield. Six major cancer hospitals from Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam participated. One hospital showed unacceptable quality for the DNA/RNA assessment, but improved by revising laboratory procedures. Only 57% (n = 73) of the 128 rare‐cancer patients' specimens met both DNA and RNA quality criteria for next‐generation sequencing. Median DV200 was 80.7% and 64.3% for qualified and failed RNA, respectively. Median ΔΔCt was 1.25 for qualified and 4.89 for failed DNA. Longer storage period was significantly associated with poor DNA (fail to qualify ratio = 1579:321 days, p < 0.001) and RNA (fail to qualify ratio = 1070:280 days, p < 0.001). After improvement of pre‐analytical factors, the qualification rate increased for hospitals A and E from 41.5% to 70.5% and 62.5% to 86%, respectively. This is the first report to elucidate the pre‐analytical laboratory procedures of main Southeast Asian oncology hospitals. An external quality assessment program may improve factors associated with tumor FFPE specimen quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of oxidation of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy at 800 °C on its tensile properties at 600 °C has been studied. Specimens of this alloy were oxidized at 800 °C for 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 h. Tensile tests at 600 °C were carried out and the fracture surfaces were also examined. Oxidation of the specimens resulted in the formation of an oxide layer that spalled and another oxide layer that adhered to the substrate. Oxide formation increased with increase in duration of oxidation. In this investigation, density curves of the oxide layer as a function of duration of oxidation at 800 °C were used to identify a parabolic oxide growth law. The results of this study revealed coherence between the experimental data and calculations based on the Pilling-Bedworth law. The mechanical strength of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy did not vary significantly with oxidation, but reduction in cross sectional area with increase in oxide layer thickness, as well as the slope of the stress-strain curve decreased beyond the ultimate tensile strength. Fracture of the tensile tested specimens was predominantly ductile with microcavities. At certain regions of the oxide layer, brittle fracture with radial cracks was observed indicating intergranular fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria ( PNH) is a rare, acquired, clonal haemopoietic stem cell disorder that causes chronic intravascular haemolysis, increases the risk of thrombosis and results in significant patient morbidity and mortality. The symptoms of PNH may have a major impact on patient quality of life. Aims To assess patient fatigue and health-related quality of life in 29 patients with PNH using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue subscale version 4 ( FACIT-Fatigue) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of- Life Questionnaire-C30, version 3 ( EORTC QLQ-C30). Methods Following completion of the questionnaires, patients were interviewed to assess the validity, clarity, relevance and comprehensiveness of the assessments. Results Overall, patients considered both the FACIT-Fatigue and EORTC QLQ- C30 instruments to be relevant and adequate in assessing the level of PNH-associated fatigue and other quality-of-life measures. The FACIT- Fatigue questionnaire was considered to be clear and to comprehensively cover PNH-related fatigue. The EORTC QLQ- C30 instrument was considered to be easy to understand, but of an overall lower relevance, although some differences between countries were observed. Patients suggested additional questions that could be incorporated into future EORTC QLQ- C30 versions to make it more relevant to PNH. Conclusions This study confirms the validity of the FACIT-Fatigue and the EORTC QLQ- C30 questionnaires in this patient population and their routine use should be considered in the management of patients with PNH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study of the effect of the pineapple stem-derived cysteine protease (CP), Bromelain, on intestinal contractility and transit in mice. The authors stimulated the mouse isolated ileum in an organ bath that has acetylcholine, barium chloride in order to examine the contractility in vitro. They found that CP suppressed the contractions caused by different spasmogenic compounds in the mouse ileum with similar potency. They also observed that Bromelain could be used in reducing diarrhea in inflammatory bowel disease patients.