The Enigmatic Spelaeorhynchidae Oudemans, 1902 (Acari: Mesostigmata) Blood-Feeding Ectoparasites Infesting Neotropical Bats, with Catalog and Notes on a Collection from the Manú Biosphere Reserve in Peru

A survey of ectoparasites associated with bats collected along an elevational transect in the Manú Biosphere Reserve, Peru, includes specimens of two species of an unusual and rarely collected family of parasitic mites, the Spelaeorhynchidae Oudemans, and reveals information on the natural occurrence of these infections. In lowland rainforest (450–1,000 m) along the Rio Alto Madre de Dios, Spelaeorhynchus soaresi Peracchi was recorded exclusively infecting two species of frugivorous Carollia, C. brevicauda and C. perspicillata. At higher elevations in the mountains and cloud forests, Spelaeorhynchus praecursor Neumann exclusively infected two species of nectarivorous Anoura, A. cultrata and A. geoffroyi. The consistency of both altitudinal and host distributional limits between sampling periods suggests that the true focus of infection may be sustained in certain habituated, long-term roosting sites. This valuable spelaeorhynchid survey collection (slides and vials) is available for further study at the following repositories: the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago

A phase Ib/II study of cabozantinib (XL184) with or without erlotinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

PurposeCabozantinib is a multi-kinase inhibitor that targets MET, AXL, and VEGFR2, and may synergize with EGFR inhibition in NSCLC. Cabozantinib was assessed alone or in combination with erlotinib in patients with progressive NSCLC and EGFR mutations who had previously received erlotinib.MethodsThis was a phase Ib/II study (NCT00596648). The primary objectives of phase I were to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics and to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of cabozantinib plus erlotinib in patients who failed prior erlotinib treatment. In phase II, patients with prior response or stable disease with erlotinib who progressed were randomized to single-agent cabozantinib 100 mg qd vs cabozantinib 100 mg qd and erlotinib 50 mg qd (phase I MTD), with a primary objective of estimating objective response rate (ORR).ResultsSixty-four patients were treated in phase I. Doses of 100 mg cabozantinib plus 50 mg erlotinib, or 40 mg cabozantinib plus 150 mg erlotinib were determined to be MTDs. Diarrhea was the most frequent dose-limiting toxicity and the most frequent AE (87.5% of patients). The ORR for phase I was 8.2% (90% CI 3.3-16.5). In phase II, one patient in the cabozantinib arm (N = 15) experienced a partial response, for an ORR of 6.7% (90% CI 0.3-27.9), with no responses for cabozantinib plus erlotinib (N = 13). There was no evidence that co-administration of cabozantinib markedly altered erlotinib pharmacokinetics or vice versa.ConclusionsDespite responses with cabozantinib/erlotinib in phase I, there were no responses in the combination arm of phase II in patients with acquired resistance to erlotinib. Cabozantinib did not appear to re-sensitize these patients to erlotinib

Checklist of Bloodfeeding Mites (Acari: Spinturnicidae) from the Wings of Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in the Manú Biosphere Reserve, Peru

A survey collection of mites of the family Spinturnicidae from Peruvian bats includes 11 species of Periglischrus (acutisternus, gameroi, grandisoma, herrerai, hopkinsi, iheringi, micronycteridis, ojasti, paracutisternus, paravargasi, and ramirezi) and 2 Spinturnix (americanus and bakeri); almost all represent new locality records. This survey collection is available for further study at the following repositories: The Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; and the Laboratório de Espeleobiologia y Acarologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. When spinturnicid mites are collected to avoid cross-contamination by mites among species of bats, parasitic associations are consistently host specific, with Periglischrus spp. distributed exclusively on phyllostomid bats, and Spinturnix spp. on vespertilionids. Notable disjunctions within the Manú Reserve include an absence of spinturnicids on bats of the genus Carollia (Phyllostomidae), or with Chiroderma villosum (Stenodermatinae). Mites of the family Spinturnicidae are not normally associated with bats of the families Emballonuridae, Molossidae, or Noctilionidae. Resumen En una colección de ácaros de la familia Spinturnicidae en murciélagos peruanos se encontraron 11 especies de Periglischrus (acutisternus, gameroi, grandisoma, herrerai, hopkinsi, iheringi, micronycteridis, ojasti, paracutisternus, paravargasi, y ramirezi) y 2 Spinturnix (americanus y bakeri); la mayoría representan nuevos registros de localidad. Esta colección está disponible para su posterior estudio en las siguientes instituciones: Laboratorio de Parasitología Harold W. Manter, Universidad de Nebraska–Lincoln, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, y Laboratorio de Espeleobiología y Acarología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Si los espinturnicidos se recolectan evitando la contaminación cruzada de los ácaros, entre las especies de murciélagos, las asociaciones parasitarias son consistentemente específicas al hospedador, con Periglischrus spp. distribuido exclusivamente en murciélagos phyllostomidos y Spinturnix spp. en vespertilionidos. Las disyunciones notables dentro de la Reserva de Manu incluyen una ausencia de espinturnicidos en los murciélagos del género Carollia (Phyllostomidae), o con Chiroderma villosum (Stenodermatinae). Los ácaros de la familia Spinturnicidae normalmente no están asociados con murciélagos de las familias Emballonuridae, Molossidae, y Noctilionidae

Current status of vandetanib (ZD6474) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Vandetanib (ZD6474) is an oral small molecule inhibitor of multiple intracellular receptor kinases, including the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) -2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Both VEGFR and EGFR pathways have emerged as instrumental in the growth and metastasis of multiple malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Indeed, inhibitors of each pathway have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in advanced NSCLC. As there is considerable cross talk between these pathways, dual inhibition with such agents has become an attractive strategy, with encouraging Phase II clinical trial data to date. The convenience of one oral agent targeting both pathways is clear, and clinical trials have established the maximum tolerated daily dose of vandetanib, with data from randomized Phase III trials emerging. This report will review completed and ongoing NSCLC clinical trials evaluating vandetanib, and speculate on the future of this agent in NSCLC

HOW DO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SELECT AND USE THEIR LEARNING TOOLS? A MIXED-METHOD STUDY ON PERSONALISED LEARNING (21)

Universities often blend traditional learning and e-learning by providing software licenses, electronic learning materials, and access to Learning Management Systems. Following the idea of personalised learning in higher education, students are free to choose between a wide range of learning tools constructing their Personalised Learning Environment. However, the characteristics of the chosen tools need to match the characteristics of the learning tasks to support students adequately. In the present paper, a mixed-method approach is used to analyse which types of tools are used in practice and which types of learning tasks are performed using these learning tools. Furthermore, important factors influencing the decision to select learning tools are identified. This study shows that a wide array of learning tools is used in practice. Although students consider individual factors (such as perceived ease of use and task-technology fit) to be most important when selecting their tools, several exogenous factors such as the lecturers’ targeted pedagogy, social norm and the occurrence of higher order thinking skills limit the range of adequate learning tools

Axitinib: The evidence of its potential in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid cancer is a rare disease with an incidence of around 37,000 cases per year. However, its incidence is rising faster than many other cancers and for men this disease ranks highest overall in the rate of increase (2.4% annual increase) in cancer deaths. As the number of radioactive iodine-resistant thyroid cancers increases, the need for newer treatments has become more important. Axitinib is one of many new small molecule inhibitors of growth factor receptors that have shown promise in the treatment of many cancers. It targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2 and 3. AIMS: The goal of this article is to review the published evidence for the use of axitinib in the treatment of thyroid cancer and define its therapeutic potential. EVIDENCE REVIEW: The major evidence of axitinib activity has appeared in meeting report abstracts. One phase II study has been published. This included patients with any histological type of thyroid cancer that was not amenable to treatment with radioactive iodine. CLINICAL POTENTIAL: To date, in phase II clinical studies axitinib has demonstrated antitumor activity in advanced refractory thyroid cancer. As a monotherapy it resulted in a 30% response rate with another 38% of patients having stable disease. Axitinib appears to have a good tolerability profile, with hypertension being the most common grade 3 or greater side effect