Pixantrone-rituximab versus gemcitabine-rituximab in relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

UNLABELLED: We describe the rationale and design of the ongoing randomized, active-controlled, multicenter, Phase III study evaluating the efficacy of pixantrone and rituximab versus gemcitabine and rituximab in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or follicular grade 3 lymphoma, who are ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, and who failed front-line regimens containing rituximab. The administration schedule is pixantrone 50 mg/m(2) intravenously (iv.) or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) iv. on days 1, 8 and 15, combined with rituximab 375 mg/m(2) iv. on day 1, up to six cycles. Pixantrone has a conditional European marketing approval for monotherapy in adults with multiple relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Our trial explores the efficacy of combining pixantrone with rituximab and completes postauthorization measures. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01321541

Reduction of Liver Iron Load in Adult Patients with β-Thalassemia Major Treated with Modern Chelation Modalities

Background: Management of beta-thalassemia major (TM) requires life-long hemotransfusions leading to iron overload. Iron elimination is enhanced by the use of modern chelators. Aim: To assess the effect of modern chelation therapy by dynamics of serum ferritin concentration and liver MRI T2*.Patients and methods: Forty-six patients with TM (male to female ratio =1:1, mean age 33.2±10.9 years) were prospectively studied between 2011 and 2014. Twenty-one patients (45.7%) were treated with deferasirox, 17 (37%) – with deferiprone, and 8 (17.3%) – with deferiprone in combination with deferoxamine. Ferritin was measured by ELISA. MRI T2* was assessed by Siemens Magnetom Avanto 1.5T. The patients were allocated into 3 groups based on their initial ferritin level and liver MRI T2*. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v. 18 for Windows. Data were analysed by descriptive analysis, analysis of variance and correlative analysis, means were compared using t-test and one-way ANOVA.Results: In 2011, 9 (19.5%) patients had normal liver MRI T2*; in 2014 they were 17 (37%). The patients with mild grade liver siderosis were 12 (26%) in 2011, and in 2014 they were 14 (30.4%). In 2011, the patients with moderate liver siderosis were 14 (30.4%), and in 2014 – 12 (26.0%). Eleven patients (23.9%) had severe liver siderosis in 2011 and only two patients (4.0%) were diagnosed with the condition in 2014.Conclusion: A reduction of iron overload was found in all studied groups. This positive effect is attributed to the use of modern chelators and the ease of access to accurate monitoring

Supporting European Energy Consumers through Gamification and Competence-based Learning

The European energy market liberalization strategy aims to assign a new role to consumers and end-users’ communities so that they can become active participants on the energy market. In this paper we present the project SOCIALENERGY, EU-funded under the H2020 program. This project aims to promote the EU energy market transformation policy and to deliver supporting instruments. By developing innovative ICT-based tools, the project consortium will empower the EU energy consumers to become more energy efficient and competent. Apart from presenting the advanced features of SOCIALENERGY multi-modular platform, we will highlight the importance of the novel competence-based education (CBE) framework to support educational activities and to promote creation of social communities in the energy efficiency domain. ACM Computing Classification System (1998): J.1, K.3.1, K.4.3, K.5.2

Pixantrone plus rituximab versus gemcitabine plus rituximab in patients with relapsed aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma not eligible for stem cell transplantation: a phase 3, randomized, multicentre trial (PIX306).

PIX306 was a phase 3, randomised, single-blind, multicentre trial conducted in adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or follicular lymphoma (FL) grade 3 who relapsed after ≥1 rituximab-containing regimen and were not eligible for a stem cell transplant. Patients were randomised 1:1 to pixantrone 50 mg/