Use of Lignocellulosic Materials for PHA Production

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are very promising materials that might serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to petrochemical plastics. The main obstacle preventing PHAs from entering the market massively is the final cost of the polymer material, a significant portion of which is attributed to carbon substrate. Hence, the researchers have been intensively seeking cheap substrates for sustainable production of PHAs. Lignocellulose represents a very promising substrate for PHAs production – it is abundant, cheap, and it does not compete with human food chain. On the other hand, utilization of lignocellulose materials as substrates for biotechnological processes represents a challenge due to many factors, such as necessary hydrolysis of the biomass to yield fermentable sugars and presence of numerous antimicrobial agents. Therefore, this work summarizes recent advances in biotechnological conversion of lignocellulose materials into PHAs. The review not only deals with the process of fermentation, but it also considers different approaches of lignocellulose hydrolysis and detoxification

The evidence base for circulating tumour DNA blood-based biomarkers for the early detection of cancer: a systematic mapping review

Background: The presence of circulating cell-free DNA from tumours in blood (ctDNA) is of major importance to those interested in early cancer detection, as well as to those wishing to monitor tumour progression or diagnose the presence of activating mutations to guide treatment. In 2014, the UK Early Cancer Detection Consortium undertook a systematic mapping review of the literature to identify blood-based biomarkers with potential for the development of a non-invasive blood test for cancer screening, and which identified this as a major area of interest. This review builds on the mapping review to expand the ctDNA dataset to examine the best options for the detection of multiple cancer types. Methods: The original mapping review was based on comprehensive searches of the electronic databases Medline, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane library, and Biosis to obtain relevant literature on blood-based biomarkers for cancer detection in humans (PROSPERO no. CRD42014010827). The abstracts for each paper were reviewed to determine whether validation data were reported, and then examined in full. Publications concentrating on monitoring of disease burden or mutations were excluded. Results: The search identified 94 ctDNA studies meeting the criteria for review. All but 5 studies examined one cancer type, with breast, colorectal and lung cancers representing 60% of studies. The size and design of the studies varied widely. Controls were included in 77% of publications. The largest study included 640 patients, but the median study size was 65 cases and 35 controls, and the bulk of studies (71%) included less than 100 patients. Studies either estimated cfDNA levels non-specifically or tested for cancer-specific mutations or methylation changes (the majority using PCR-based methods). Conclusion: We have systematically reviewed ctDNA blood biomarkers for the early detection of cancer. Pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical considerations were identified which need to be addressed before such biomarkers enter clinical practice. The value of small studies with no comparison between methods, or even the inclusion of controls is highly questionable, and larger validation studies will be required before such methods can be considered for early cancer detection

Acute kidney injury in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated acute kidney injury (ICPi-AKI) has emerged as an important toxicity among patients with cancer. Methods: We collected data on 429 patients with ICPi-AKI and 429 control patients who received ICPis contemporaneously but who did not develop ICPi-AKI from 30 sites in 10 countries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ICPi-AKI and its recovery. A multivariable Cox model was used to estimate the effect of ICPi rechallenge versus no rechallenge on survival following ICPi-AKI. Results: ICPi-AKI occurred at a median of 16 weeks (IQR 8-32) following ICPi initiation. Lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, and extrarenal immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were each associated with a higher risk of ICPi-AKI. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis was the most common lesion on kidney biopsy (125/151 biopsied patients [82.7%]). Renal recovery occurred in 276 patients (64.3%) at a median of 7 weeks (IQR 3-10) following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids within 14 days following ICPi-AKI diagnosis was associated with higher odds of renal recovery (adjusted OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.58 to 4.41). Among patients treated with corticosteroids, early initiation of corticosteroids (within 3 days of ICPi-AKI) was associated with a higher odds of renal recovery compared with later initiation (more than 3 days following ICPi-AKI) (adjusted OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.16 to 3.79). Of 121 patients rechallenged, 20 (16.5%) developed recurrent ICPi-AKI. There was no difference in survival among patients rechallenged versus those not rechallenged following ICPi-AKI. Conclusions: Patients who developed ICPi-AKI were more likely to have impaired renal function at baseline, use a PPI, and have extrarenal irAEs. Two-thirds of patients had renal recovery following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids was associated with improved renal recovery

Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Supported by F. Hoffmann–La Roche

Інновації та туристичні регіони: чи розглядають інновації як детермінанту розвитку в європейського туризму в регіонах?

У статті проаналізовано інноваційні аспекти розвитку туристичних регіонів у Європі. Основною метою статті є визначення ступеня сприйняття інновацій у туристичних регіонах як детермінанти їх розвитку. Авторами оцінено проблему розвитку туристичних регіонів у Європі у сфері інновацій, як можливого вихідного пункту для оптимізації змін у політиці місцевого та регіонального туризму. Вихідну базу дослідження сформовано на основі опитування 95 експертів у галузі регіонального туризму з 17 країн Європи. Для аналізу властивостей категоріальних даних та їх взаємозв'язків використано статистичні методи, такі як Gamma, Kendall's Tau-b, Somers' D C|R, коефіцієнт кореляції Спірмена, Коефіцієнт Фі, Коефіцієнт Контингентності, Коефіцієнт Крамера, а також алгоритм дерева рішень. Рівень інноваційного середовища у туристичних регіонах та їхня ступінь розвитку впливають на сприйняття інновацій. Регіони Південної Європи сприймають інновації як найбільш ефективний інструмент, що формує передумови їх розвитку. Туристичні регіони з вищим рівнем інноваційної активності мають встановлену систему управління якістю, а також комплексний і систематичний підхід до постачання продуктів як у сезонний, так і позасезонний періоди. Регіони, що віднесені до групи "Емерджентних інноваторів", виявляють більш інтенсивне сприйняття проблем у впровадженні інновацій. Це відображає недостатню координацію портфеля замовлень як за обсягом, так і за якістю, в країнах, де інноваційне середовище слабо розвинене. Головною рекомендацією для зменшення сприйняття інновацій як проблеми у розвитку туристичних регіонів Європи є акцент на впровадженні інструментів регіональної політики, які стимулюють участь туризму в синергетичних ефектах існуючого інноваційного середовища економіки.This article examines innovative aspects of the development of tourism regions in Europe. The article aims to determine the intensity of the perception of innovation in the tourism region as a problem in its development. The ambition of the article is to assess the problems in the development of tourism regions in Europe in the field of innovation as a possible starting point for optimizing changes in local and regional tourism policy. The research analyses the positions of 95 regional tourism experts from 17 European countries. The database was based on a databank of 150 representatives of academia and 275 representatives of regional tourism organizations. To analyse the properties of categorical data and the relationships between them, we used Gamma, Kendall's Tau-b, Somers' D C|R, Spearman correlation coefficient, Phi Coefficient, Contingency Coefficient, Cramer's V and the decision tree algorithm. The maturity of the innovation environment of tourism regions and their level of development influence the perception of innovations as a problem in their development. Southern European tourism regions perceive innovation as a problem in their development most intensively. Tourism regions with stronger innovation activity have a well-established quality management system and a comprehensive and systematically addressed supply of seasonal and offseason products. Tourism regions ranked in the emerging innovator group perceive the specified problems in the implementation of innovations more intensively. This reflects the lack of coordination of the product portfolio, both in terms of range and quality, in countries where the innovation environment is poorly developed. A key recommendation to mitigate the perception of innovations as a problem in the development of Europe's tourism regions is to focus attention on the implementation of regional policy instruments that stimulate the participation of tourism in the synergy effects of the existing innovation environment of the economy