Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (PMVT) in a Patient With Troponin-Negative Chest Pain: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT) is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia, typically associated with acute myocardial ischemia or inherited channelopathies. We present a case of PMVT in the context of critical coronary artery disease (CAD) but without biomarker-evident myocardial injury, such as troponin elevation. We present a case of a 61-year-old man with critical left anterior descending (LAD) artery stenosis who developed symptomatic PMVT.

Normal values of high-resolution transmural perfusion distribution metrics for automated quantitative pixel-wise myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: The myocardial blood flow (MBF) transmural distribution between the subendocardial (ENDO) and subepicardial (EPI) layers under resting and hyperemic conditions can aid in the diagnosis of several forms of heart disease. Recently proposed automated in-line myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows pixel-wise quantification of ENDO- and EPI-MBF, but normal values for these parameters are lacking. We therefore aimed to establish normal values for transmural distribution of MBF in a healthy population.

A phase 2 trial of sunitinib in patients with progressive paraganglioma or pheochromocytoma: the SNIPP trial.

Background: Pheochromocytoma (PCC) and paraganglioma (PGL) are uncommon neoplasms with high morbidity in advanced stages. Effective systemic treatments are limited.

Methods: A multisite phase 2 trial evaluated sunitinib in patients with progressive PCC/PGL.

Anhedonia in depressed patients on treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressant--A two-centered study in Malaysia.

Objective: Anhedonia is the reduced ability to experience pleasure. It is a core symptom of depression and is particularly difficult to treat. This study aims to compare the level of anhedonia between depressed patients on anti-depressants and healthy subjects.

Validation of Malay Version of Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale: Comparison between Depressed Patients and Healthy Subjects at an Out-Patient Clinic in Malaysia.

Background: The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a self-assessment scale designed to evaluate anhedonia in various psychiatric disorders. In order to facilitate its use in Malaysian settings, our current study aimed to examine the validity of a Malay-translated version of the SHAPS (SHAPS-M).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 44 depressed patients and 82 healthy subjects were recruited from a university out-patient clinic.

Nanoparticle tracking analysis monitors microvesicle and exosome secretion from immune cells.

Nanoparticle tracking analysis permits the determination of both the size distribution and relative concentration of microvesicles, including exosomes, in the supernatants of cultured cells and biological fluids. We have studied the release of microvesicles from the human lymphoblastoid T-cell lines Jurkat and CEM. Unstimulated, both cell lines release microvesicles in the size range 70-90 nm, which can be depleted from the supernatant by ultracentrifugation at 100 000 g, and by anti-CD45 magnetic beads, and which by immunoblotting also contain the exosome-associated proteins Alix and Tsg101.

Sorafenib for metastatic renal cancer: the Princess Margaret experience.

Objective: Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, prolonged progression-free survival when compared with placebo, as second-line therapy for patients with metastatic renal carcinoma (MRC). Grade 3/4 adverse events were reported in 12% of patients. This study presents sorafenib's efficacy and safety in a less selected cohort of patients enrolled in an expanded access program.

Phase II trial of sorafenib in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of single-agent sorafenib in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Patients And Methods: In this single-arm phase II trial, oral continuous sorafenib was administered in 28-day cycles. Patients had View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Phase I/II trial of erlotinib and cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a Princess Margaret Hospital phase II consortium and National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group Study.

Purpose: To determine the phase II dose and objective response rate of erlotinib, a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in combination with cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC).

Patients And Methods: HNSCC patients with no prior chemotherapy and measurable disease were treated in three escalating-dose cohorts of daily continuous oral (PO) erlotinib and intermittent intravenous (IV) cisplatin given every 21 days. The recommended phase II dose (RPTD) was then evaluated in a two-stage trial with a primary end point of objective response rate.

FTIR studies of CO adsorption on Al2O3- and SiO2-supported Ru catalysts.

The adsorption of CO on Al2O3- and SiO2-supported Ru catalysts has been investigated through FTIR spectroscopy. Deconvolution of the spectra obtained reveals the presence of 11 distinct bands in the case of Ru/Al2O3 and 10 bands in the case of Ru/SiO2, which were assigned to different carbonyl species adsorbed on reduced as well as partially oxidized Ru sites. Although most of these bands on both supports are similar, they exhibit substantial differences in terms of stability.

Effects of reduction temperature and metal-support interactions on the catalytic activity of Pt/gamma-Al2O3 and Pt/TiO2 for the oxidation of CO in the presence and absence of H2.

TiO2- and gamma-Al2O3-supported Pt catalysts were characterized by HRTEM, XPS, EXAFS, and in situ FTIR spectroscopy after activation at various conditions, and their catalytic properties were examined for the oxidation of CO in the absence and presence of H2 (PROX). When gamma-Al2O3 was used as the support, the catalytic, electronic, and structural properties of the Pt particles formed were not affected substantially by the pretreatment conditions. In contrast, the surface properties and catalytic activity of Pt/TiO2 were strongly influenced by the pretreatment conditions.

Phase I trial of gemcitabine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (GAP) in patients with advanced solid tumors.

A phase I study was conducted to determine the recommended phase II dose, safety profile and anti-tumor activity of a combination regimen of gemcitabine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (GAP). Gemcitabine (G) and doxorubicin (A) were administered on days 1 and 8 at increasing doses (starting level 800 and 15 mg/m, respectively). Cisplatin (P) was given at a fixed dose of 50 mg/m2 (day 1).

Superficial esophageal cancer: esophagographic findings correlated with histopathologic findings.

Purpose: To retrospectively determine and evaluate the findings of superficial esophageal cancer at esophagography and to correlate the esophagographic findings with the depth of tumor invasion.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review boards required neither their approval nor informed patient consent for this retrospective study. One hundred thirteen patients with superficial esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy at three institutions were included in this study.

Epstein-Barr virus DNA measured in nasopharyngeal brushings in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: pilot study.

Objective: We measured the amount of tumour-derived Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the nasal brushings of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients to determine the correlation with tumour load and response to treatment.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight patients with NPC were included in the study. Baseline measurements of EBV from nasopharyngeal brushings were obtained from 26 patients prior to treatment.

A Phase I trial of prolonged administration of lovastatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or of the cervix.

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) and of the cervix (CC) are particularly sensitive to the apoptotic effects of lovastatin in vitro. In this Phase I study, the safety and maximum related dose (MTD) of lovastatin was evaluated in these specific clinical settings. This was a Phase I open-label study to determine the recommended Phase II dose (RPTD) of lovastatin in advanced HNSCC or CC.

Correlation of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in cell-free plasma, functional imaging and clinical course in locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer: a pilot study.

Background: We evaluated the feasibility of using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in monitoring Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA concentrations in cell-free plasma of patients with localized nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with chemoradiation.

Methods: Cell-free plasma EBV DNA was quantified in six patients with locally advanced, nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) who underwent chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and correlated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and clinical course.

Results: The mean concentration of EBV DNA was 24,610 copies/mL, 682 copies/mL, and 64.

Genome sequence of the Brown Norway rat yields insights into mammalian evolution.

The laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) is an indispensable tool in experimental medicine and drug development, having made inestimable contributions to human health. We report here the genome sequence of the Brown Norway (BN) rat strain. The sequence represents a high-quality 'draft' covering over 90% of the genome.

A comparison of whole-genome shotgun-derived mouse chromosome 16 and the human genome.

The high degree of similarity between the mouse and human genomes is demonstrated through analysis of the sequence of mouse chromosome 16 (Mmu 16), which was obtained as part of a whole-genome shotgun assembly of the mouse genome. The mouse genome is about 10% smaller than the human genome, owing to a lower repetitive DNA content. Comparison of the structure and protein-coding potential of Mmu 16 with that of the homologous segments of the human genome identifies regions of conserved synteny with human chromosomes (Hsa) 3, 8, 12, 16, 21, and 22.