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OBJECTIVE: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) featured by participation of the lymph nodes, spleen, blood and bone marrow with a short remission period to standard therapies and a median overall survival of 4-5 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we compare the levels of bcl-1/JH fusion products detected by q-PCR in the concurrent peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) aspirate samples from 7 patients with MCL. RESULTS: In patients with moderate to high levels of bcl-1/JH copies, the results of q-PCR analysis of PB and BM aspirate samples correlate well. In patients with high levels of bcl-1/JH copies, instead, PB levels are a good indication of tumor burden. Finally, in patients with low levels of bcl-1/JH copies, the t(11;14) may be detected by identification of neoplastic cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that PB can be reliably used in place of BM aspirate both for detection of translocation status during minimal residual disease monitoring and for a possible molecular relapse, especially in those patients who have moderate to high levels of bcl-1/JH copies. If these results will be confirmed on a wider number of MCL patients, future study will be required to address the issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Both Fluoropyrimidine and Oxaliplatin (FluOx) are the most common anticancer drugs used to treat colorectal, ovarian, and gastrointestinal cancers. Nevertheless, the efficacy of FluOx-based therapy is often compromised by the severe risk of neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and gastrointestinal toxicity. Stratification of patients for their individual response to drugs is a promising approach for cancer treatment and cost-effectiveness. Here we evaluate the most recent findings on the most appropriate gene variants related to the toxicity in patients receiving FluOx chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was conducted to identify all clinical studies of any association between DPYD and 5-FU correlated to allelic status of 6 validated polymorphisms in five genes Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPYD), Thymidylate Synthase (TYMS), Glutathione S-Transferase (GSTP1), and DNA-repair genes (ERCC2 and XRCC1). RESULTS: The stratification of the patients into three genotype profiles group, who are most likely responders to FluOx treatments, provide informations about toxicity and/or resistance before starting therapy. Also, early evaluation cost of panel testing proposed is averaged about €100,00 per sample. The evaluation costs of genotyping before starting treatment could be a good cost-effectiveness strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the individual genomic profile, the oncologists will have new possibilities, based on the individual genetic profile, to make treatment decisions for their patients and to redefine scheduling and dosage of FluOx-based therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of ultrasupercritical power plants, Ni base alloys are prime candidate materials for long term, high temperature applications, such as boilers, operating at temperatures and pressures as high as 750°C and 35 MPa. This necessitates the investigation of their microstructural evolution as a function of thermal treatment and simulated service conditions out to longer times at forecasted service temperatures, coupled with modelling activities able to predict the microstructural evolution under these new conditions. The lack of widespread microstructural data for most commercial nickel base alloys in these time-temperature regimes makes this type of investigation even more important. In this study, the microstructural evolution of IN740, a Ni-Cr-Co-Mo-Nb-Ti-Al superalloy, is characterised as a function of aging conditions. A method for phase identification is described that can be confidently used to gather relevant information for modelling activity, such as: phase identity, volume fraction, size distribution and interparticle spacing. The microstructural evolution of IN740 is investigated at temperatures of 700 and 750°C for aging times up to 10 000 h. The data obtained experimentally from the aged specimens as well as from literature are used both as input for and validation of a microstructurally based continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model for forecasting creep properties. Using this predictive model, discussion is made of possible approaches needed to optimize creep performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although several studies have directly explored serotonin (5-HT) transmission in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), their results have been inconsistent and their clinical relevance is doubtful.Method: According to a double-blind placebo-controlled design, plasma prolactin (PRL) response to a specific serotonergic probe, d-fenfluramine, was measured in 20 drug-free obsessive-compulsive patients and in 20 matched healthy controls. After the neuroendocrine test, 15 patients completed a 10-week treatment with fluvoxamine. Psychopathological assessment was performed before and after therapy.Results: PRL response in OCD patients was blunted under the drug-free condition; correlated inversely with pretreatment ratings of obsessive-compulsive and depressive symptomatology; and correlated inversely with the improvement in obsessive-compulsive score observed after fluvoxamine treatment.Conclusions: These results support the idea of a dysfunction of 5-HT transmission in OCD, and suggest that the greater this impairment, the better the response to drugs which selectively block the reuptake of 5-HT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]