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Introduction: We sought to determine the opinions of patients, their visitors and healthcare workers regarding Influenza A (H1N1) response measures instituted within a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Materials and Methods: This questionnaire study was undertaken from 21 May 2009 to 31 August 2009. Results: There were 92 respondents, ranging in age from 15 to 77 years. Of the 90 who identified their role, 35.6% were patients, 12.2% visitors and 52.2% health care professionals. About 23% of respondents disagreed that one could have H1N1 without fever or flu-like symptoms, while 14.3% thought influenza could not be caught from an asymptomatic infected person. About 30% perceived the H1N1 death rate as high. From this study, 82.2% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Singapore’s H1N1 responses were essential, while 14.6% found it overdone. In particular, healthcare workers and doctors found their professional work to be inconvenienced. Although more than two-thirds of doctors held this view, an equal proportion agreed the outbreak response was essential. Conclusions: There was a high level of acceptance of response measures as essential, despite the perceived inconvenience. We propose that the success of containment measures requires unity of purpose and understanding among stakeholders at all levels. Key words: Infectious diseases, Pandemics, Public health

Objectives This purpose of this study was to examine clinical-pathologic factors – particularly smoking and brain metastases – in EGFR mutation positive (M+) lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) to determine their impact on survival in patients treated with first line EGFR TKI. Methods A retrospective review of EGFR mutation reflex testing experience for all ADC diagnosed at a tertiary Asian cancer centre from January 2009 to April 2013. Amongst this cohort, patients with advanced EGFR M+ ADC treated with first line EGFR TKI were identified to determine factors that influence progression free and overall survival. Results 444/742 (59.8%) ADC reflex tested for EGFR mutations were EGFR M+. Amongst never-smokers (n=468), EGFR M+ were found in 74.5% of females and 76.3% of males, and amongst ever smokers (n=283), in 53.3% of females and 35.6% of males. Exon 20 mutations were found more commonly amongst heavy smokers (> 50 pack years and > 20 pack years, Pearson’s chi square p=0.044, and p=0.038 respectively). 211 patients treated with palliative first line TKI had a median PFS and OS of 9.2 and 19.6 months respectively. 26% of patients had brain metastasis at diagnosis. This was significantly detrimental to overall survival (HR 1.85, CI 1.09-3.16, p=0.024) on multivariate analysis. There was no evidence that smoking status had a significant impact on survival. Conclusions The high prevalence of EGFR M+ in our patient population warrants reflex testing regardless of gender and smoking status. Smoking status and dosage did not impact progression free or overall survival in patients treated with first line EGFR TKI. The presence of brain metastasis at diagnosis negatively impacts overall survival.

A woman presented with metastatic breast cancer, having extensive lytic bony involvement of C2 vertebra and limited symptoms. We present the radiologic findings and case history.

Purpose To study nonhomologous end joining in extracts of two lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from patients with late radionecrosis after radiotherapy. Both cell lines were previously shown to exhibit impaired rejoining of DNA double-strand breaks in a pulse-field gel electrophoresis assay. Methods and Materials We used a cell-free system and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, as well as sequencing analysis of end joining products. Results Paradoxically, extracts of the two cell lines display increased rates of in vitro end joining of noncohesive termini compared with normal cell extracts. This increase was seen in the absence of added deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and was sensitive to inhibition by wortmannin. Sequencing of the joined products revealed that, despite increased rates of end joining, the process was error prone with a greater frequency of deletions compared with that observed in normal controls. Conclusion These findings are consistent with the suggestion that a promiscuous, deletion-prone abnormality of nonhomologous end joining might underpin the predisposition of certain radiotherapy patients to late radionecrosis. We hypothesize that some individuals might harbor subclinical defects in nonhomologous end joining that clinically manifest on challenge with high-dose radiation. Because both quantitative and qualitative aspects of end joining have demonstrably been influenced, we recommend that the study of patient samples should involve a combination of quantitative methods ( e.g., quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction), sequencing analysis, and a comparison of multiple join types.

Study Design. A case report of the hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (Job syndrome) presenting in the context of late postoperative infection after corrective surgery for scoliosis. Objective. To describe the clinical presentation and treatment of a patient with Job syndrome, and its implications for spine surgeons. Summary of Background Data. Job syndrome classically presents with a triad of increased serum immunoglobulin E, multiple abscesses, and pneumonia with pneumatocele formation. In recent years nonimmunologic manifestations have been described, including scoliosis, joint hypermobility, eosinophilia, and atopy. Methods. A 15-year-old female presented with local swelling and fever 2 years after anterior lumbar discectomy and fusion with spinal instrumentation involving T11-L3 levels. Computerized tomography revealed paravertebral, psoas, and pulmonary abscesses. The implants were removed and antibiotic therapy instituted. Further investigation revealed features of the hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (Job syndrome). Results. The patient's symptoms resolved, as did markers of inflammation. Conclusions. Job syndrome is a primary immunodeficiency often associated with scoliosis. Given the implications for surgical outcome in immunodeficient patients, the diagnosis should be considered and, blood tests instituted in patients with scoliosis with any of the associated history and physical findings of Job syndrome.

The Fanconi anaemia (FA) nuclear complex (composed of the FA proteins A, C, G and F) is essential for protection against chromosome breakage. It activates the downstream protein FANCD2 by monoubiquitylation; this then forges an association with the BRCA1 protein at sites of DNA damage. Here we show that the recently identified FANCE protein is part of this nuclear complex, binding both FANCC and FANCD2. Indeed, FANCE is required for the nuclear accumulation of FANCC and provides a critical bridge between the FA complex and FANCD2. Disease-associated FANCC mutants do not bind to FANCE, cannot accumulate in the nucleus and are unable to prevent chromosome breakage.

e19101 Background: The relationship between RECIST tumour measurements and clinical outcomes in EGFR mutant NSCLC is not well established. We sought to identify tumour response parameters that corr...

e18546 Background: We described EBV & HHV8 co-infection rates, histology subtypes (particularly T-cell), prognosticators and outcomes of Asian ARL and compared them to Western series. Methods: We studied clinicopathologic features of 46 HAART-era ARL diagnosed from 1998-2011 in an Asian Tertiary Cancer Centre. To study HIV effect on survival, we applied multivariate analysis to HIV-DLBCL matched against 453 de novo DLBCL from 2000-2008. Results: The 46 patients’ characteristics are presented in the table below. Of note, germinal centre B-cell (GCB) subtype predominated in HIV-DLBCL with evaluable tissue. In multivariate analysis of HIV-DLBCL and matched de novo DLBCL, HIV status did not predict survival (HR1.33, p=0.63); CR was the only significant prognosticator (HR0.30, p=0.048). Conclusions: 1. EBV+ rates appeared to surpass prior Western ARL series. Although concomitant EBV infection appeared to correlate with inferior survival (HR34.5), it was not statistically significant. 2. Alb