Explore the vast range of titles available.

The APL0406 study showed that arsenic trioxide (ATO) and all -trans retinoic acid (ATRA) are not inferior to standard ATRA and chemotherapy (CHT) in newly diagnosed, low–intermediaterisk acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). We analysed the kinetics of promyelocytic leukaemia–retinoic acid receptor-α (PML–RARα) transcripts by real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) in bone marrow samples from 184 patients and assessed the prognostic impact of fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 –internal tandem duplication ( FLT3 –ITD) in 159 patients enrolled in this trial in Italy. After induction therapy, the reduction of PML–RARα transcripts was significantly greater in patients receiving ATRA-CHT as compared with those treated with ATRA–ATO (3.4 vs 2.9 logs; P =0.0182). Conversely, at the end of consolidation, a greater log reduction of PML–RARα transcripts was detected in the ATRA–ATO as compared with the ATRA–CHT group (6.3 vs 5.3 logs; P =0.0024). FLT3 –ITD mutations had no significant impact on either event-free survival (EFS) or cumulative incidence of relapse in patients receiving ATRA–ATO, whereas a trend for inferior EFS was observed in FLT3 –ITD-positive patients receiving ATRA-CHT. Our study shows at the molecular level that ATRA–ATO exerts at least equal and probably superior antileukaemic efficacy compared with ATRA–CHT in low–intermediaterisk APL. The data also suggest that ATRA–ATO may abrogate the negative prognostic impact of FLT3 –ITD.

The APL0406 study showed that arsenic trioxide (ATO) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) are not inferior to standard ATRA and chemotherapy (CHT) in newly diagnosed, low-intermediaterisk acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). We analysed the kinetics of promyelocytic leukaemia-retinoic acid receptor-[alpha] (PML-RAR[alpha]) transcripts by real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) in bone marrow samples from 184 patients and assessed the prognostic impact of fms-related tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) in 159 patients enrolled in this trial in Italy. After induction therapy, the reduction of PML-RAR[alpha] transcripts was significantly greater in patients receiving ATRA-CHT as compared with those treated with ATRA-ATO (3.4 vs 2.9 logs; P=0.0182). Conversely, at the end of consolidation, a greater log reduction of PML-RAR[alpha] transcripts was detected in the ATRA-ATO as compared with the ATRA-CHT group (6.3 vs 5.3 logs; P=0.0024). FLT3-ITD mutations had no significant impact on either event-free survival (EFS) or cumulative incidence of relapse in patients receiving ATRA-ATO, whereas a trend for inferior EFS was observed in FLT3-ITD-positive patients receiving ATRA-CHT. Our study shows at the molecular level that ATRA-ATO exerts at least equal and probably superior antileukaemic efficacy compared with ATRA-CHT in low-intermediaterisk APL. The data also suggest that ATRA-ATO may abrogate the negative prognostic impact of FLT3-ITD. Leukemia (2016) 30, 1987-1992; doi: 10.1038/leu.2016.122; published online 20 May 2016

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia characterized by t(15;17) and a life-threatening coagulopathy. Once highly fatal, nowadays standard treatment approaches with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) along with chemotherapy allows curing up to 80–85% of cases. In the past decade, arsenic trioxide used alone or in combination with ATRA has demonstrated high efficacy in APL, and is currently regarded as the gold standard for treatment of relapsed cases. Chemotherapy-free approaches based on the combination of arsenic trioxide and ATRA are currently being tested against standard ATRA and chemotherapy in randomized clinical trials for frontline therapy of APL.

Quality improvement project to promote staff compliance with a policy of wearing 2 pairs of gloves during surgical procedures to detect punctures and to implement a hands-free neutral zone technique to decrease sharps injuries. Staff, including nurses, were observed for compliance with double gloving in the operating theatre over a year and sharps injuries were reviewed after intensive staff education. [(BNI unique abstract)] 12 references

The study of iodine in glasses and melts is critical in many areas, from geosciences to materials science to waste management. Glasses in the ternary system Na 2 O-B 2 O 3 -SiO 2 were studied with the goal of identifying a glass matrix able to dissolve large quantities of this element, and to identify the main parameters affecting the solubility of iodine. Two sets of experiments were carried out: the first one with the aim of determining the solubility limit of iodine, and the second one to identify the structural variations occurring within the glass network upon iodine incorporation, and to identify the parameters influencing the most both iodine solubility and speciation. We demonstrated that there is a strong dependence of iodine incorporation on bulk chemistry and glass physical properties. A solubility limit of ~5 mol% I has been assessed for B 2 O 3 -rich glasses and of ~1 mol% for SiO 2 -rich ones, and this composition dependence has been explained by considering the fragility parameter of the glass network. Structural variations in the iodine local environment and in the glass network were characterized by Raman, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, and 11 B NMR. Spectroscopy data point out the coexistence of different I species within the glasses, with iodide being the predominant one, surrounded by Na + ions.

The global supply of COVID-19 vaccines remains limited. An understanding of the immune response that is predictive of protection could facilitate rapid licensure of new vaccines. Data from a randomized efficacy trial of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine in the United Kingdom was analyzed to determine the antibody levels associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2. Binding and neutralizing antibodies at 28 days after the second dose were measured in infected and noninfected vaccine recipients. Higher levels of all immune markers were correlated with a reduced risk of symptomatic infection. A vaccine efficacy of 80% against symptomatic infection with majority Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant of SARS-CoV-2 was achieved with 264 (95% CI: 108, 806) binding antibody units (BAU)/ml: and 506 (95% CI: 135, not computed (beyond data range) (NC)) BAU/ml for anti-spike and anti-RBD antibodies, and 26 (95% CI: NC, NC) international unit (IU)/ml and 247 (95% CI: 101, NC) normalized neutralization titers (NF 50 ) for pseudovirus and live-virus neutralization, respectively. Immune markers were not correlated with asymptomatic infections at the 5% significance level. These data can be used to bridge to new populations using validated assays, and allow extrapolation of efficacy estimates to new COVID-19 vaccines. Defined levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific binding and neutralizing antibodies elicited by the COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 are identified as correlates of protection against symptomatic infection.

IntroductionDespite repeated vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 virus, patients who are immunocompromised remain at very high risk of catching SARS-CoV-2 virus and becoming unwell. AZD7442 (Evusheld) is a long-acting monoclonal antibody treatment that has been shown in clinical trials to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection for up to a year after a single dose. Vaccines require a healthy immune system to generate protective immunity. AZD7442 may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised individuals that may not have responded to repeated vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Unlike vaccinations, AZD7442 reaches effective levels within the body a few hours after a single dose. The RAPID-PROTECTION trial will determine the levels of immune protection that AZD7442 offers patients at the very highest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and whether this protection can be further enhanced by repeated vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 virus.MethodsRAPID-PROTECTION is a multicentre, interventional and open-label adaptive platform trial that aims to recruit 350 immunocompromised participants across five UK centres. Participants will be administered AZD7442 on day 0 followed by a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination 28 days later. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to the Moderna vaccine or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Participant samples will be taken at baseline and at multiple timepoints after the administration of AZD7442.AnalysisThe participant samples will be analysed to measure the function and magnitude of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody and T-cell responses at baseline and at multiple timepoints after the administration of AZD7442. The immunological effect of the study interventions will be determined by comparison of the results of immunological assessments at baseline and subsequent timepoints.Ethics and disseminationThe trial protocol was approved by the research ethics committee of the National Health Service (reference 22/HRA/0359), Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales on 25 July 2022. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN53507177.

All- trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus arsenic trioxide was found to be noninferior to ATRA plus chemotherapy, and less toxic, in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. This is an early example of a curative therapy for acute leukemia without chemotherapy. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has become a highly curable disease with contemporary treatment, which consists of all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline-based chemotherapy. 1 , 2 As reported in several large multicenter trials, this combination results in overall remission rates of up to 95% and cure rates now exceeding 80%. 3 – 11 Thus, the combination of ATRA and chemotherapy is currently considered the standard of care for newly diagnosed APL. 12 Arsenic trioxide is also highly effective in the treatment of APL. Early studies conducted in China and the United States showed that this agent can induce sustained molecular remission when used as . . .

The aim of this article is to report the presence of choroidal loculation of fluid and choroidal cavern in a case of choroidal osteoma, previously undescribed in this disease.The aim of this article is to report the presence of choroidal loculation of fluid and choroidal cavern in a case of choroidal osteoma, previously undescribed in this disease.