Pan American Climate Study (PACS) mooring deployment cruise report : R/V Roger Revelle cruise number Genesis 4, 9 April-5 May 1997

Three surface moorings were deployed in the eastern equatorial Pacifc from the R/V Roger Revelle as part of the Pan American Climate Study (PACS). PACS is a NOAA-funded study with the goal of investigating links between sea surface temperature varabilty in the tropical oceans near the Americas and climate over the American continents. The three moorings were deployed near 125°W, spanning the strong meridional sea surface temperature gradient associated with the cold tongue south of the equator and the warmer ocean north of the equator, near the northernmost, summer location of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The mooring deployment was done to improve understading of the air-sea fluxes and of the processes that control the evolution of the sea surface temperature field in the region. Two surface moorings of the Upper Ocean Processes Group at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) were deployed-one at 3°S, 125°W and the other at lO°N, 125°W. One mooring from the Ocean Circulation Group (R. Weisberg) at the University of South Florida (USP) was deployed on the equator at 128°W. The buoys of the two WHOI moorings were each equipped with meteorological instrmentation, including a Vector Averaging Wind Recorder, and an Improved Meteorological (IMET) system. The WHOI moorings also carried Vector Measurng Current Meters, single-point temperature recorders, and conductivity and temperature recorders located in the upper 200 meters of the mooring line. In addition to the instrumentation noted above, a variety of other instruments, including an acoustic current meter, acoustic doppler current meters, bio-optical instrument packages and an acoustic rain gauge, were deployed during the PACS field program. The USF mooring had an IMET system on the surface buoy and for oceanographic instrumentation, two RD Instruments acoustic doppler current profilers, single-point temperature recorders, and conductivity and temperature recorders. Conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profiles were made at each mooring site and during the transit between mooring locations. This report describes, in a general manner, the work that took place durig the Genesis 4 cruise aboard the R/V Roger Revelle. The three surface moorings deployed during this cruise will be recovered and re-deployed after approximately nine months, with a final recovery planned for 17 months after the first setting. Details of the mooring designs and preliminary data from the CT profies are included.Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Contract No. NA66GP0130

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Symptoms in Patients with Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Final Results from the Phase II GIBB Study of the Combination of Obinutuzumab and Bendamustine

Introduction: Longitudinal changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are important in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). GIBB (NCT02320487) is an open-label, single-arm phase II study of obinutuzumab (GA101; G) in combination with bendamustine (G-Benda) in patients with previously untreated CLL. A previous report from the GIBB study demonstrated an investigator-assessed objective response rate of 89.2%, a complete response rate of 49.0%, and no unexpected safety signals with G-Benda (Sharman et al. J Clin Oncol 2017). Here we report the final HRQoL data over 3 years from the GIBB study. Methods: Enrolled patients received G-Benda by intravenous infusion over six 28-day cycles: G 100mg on Day (D)1, 900mg on D2, and 1000mg on D8 and D15 of Cycle (C)1, then 1000mg on D1 of C2-6; benda 90mg/m2 on D2-3 of C1, and on D1-2 of C2-6. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) includes a global health status measure, 5 functional scales (physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and role functioning), 8 symptom scales/items (fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, and diarrhea), and an item on financial difficulties (Aaronson et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993). The EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 16 (QLQ-CLL16) is a 16-item module, specific to CLL, containing 4 multi-item scales (fatigue, treatment side effects, disease symptoms, and infection) and 2 single items (social activities and future health worries). Both questionnaires were completed by patients on C1D1 (baseline), C3D1, and C6D1, at the end of induction (EOI) treatment (defined as +28 days from C6D1 or early treatment termination visit), at the response visit (defined as 2-3 months after the EOI treatment for all patients who received study treatment and had not experienced disease progression), and every 3 months thereafter at follow-up visits for up to 2 years. In total, there were 14 timepoints where data were collected. HRQoL scores were linear transformed to a 0-100-point scale. Mean baseline scores and mean score changes from baseline at each visit were evaluated. A threshold of ≥10-point change in score represents a clinically meaningful difference. For symptoms, negative change scores from baseline reflect an improvement in symptom burden. For global health status and functioning, positive change scores from baseline reflect improvements. Results: The trial enrolled 102 patients. Median age was 61 years and 68.4% of patients were male. Ninety-eight patients (96%) completed a questionnaire at baseline and at least 1 other questionnaire during a follow-up visit. Questionnaire completion rates at 14 time points ranged from 96% at baseline to 66% at 27 months follow-up (Table 1). According to the EORTC QLQ-C30 (Figure 1), improvements were observed for global health status at all follow-up visits, and clinically meaningful improvements were observed at the response visit, 3 months follow-up, and 27 months follow-up. Clinically meaningful improvements in role functioning were observed at EOI and persisted throughout the 27-month follow-up. For fatigue, clinically meaningful improvements were observed at every visit starting from the end of treatment (EOT) visit. Improvements were also observed for insomnia with mean reductions from baseline ≥10 points at various time points during follow-up. There was no worsening in other patient-reported symptoms or functional status over time. Similarly, with the EORTC QLQ-CLL16 (Figure 2), clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms were observed for fatigue, disease symptoms, and future health worries during treatment, at the EOT and/or throughout the follow-up. The largest improvement was observed for fatigue (-24.7) at the 24-month follow-up and future health worries (-25.4) at the 27-month follow-up. Conclusions: We previously reported that G-Benda is an effective regimen for first-line treatment of CLL with no unexpected safety signals. The HRQoL data from the GIBB trial suggest that G-Benda treatment consistently improved patient HRQoL over time. Several clinically meaningful improvements were observed in HRQoL, including global health status, functioning, symptoms, and future health worries. Disclosures Danilov: AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; MEI: Research Funding; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Research Funding; Verastem Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel Reimbursement , Research Funding; Takeda Oncology: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Research Funding; Takeda Oncology: Research Funding; Aptose Biosciences: Research Funding; Aptose Biosciences: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Bayer Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Curis: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Verastem Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel Reimbursement , Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bayer Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; Curis: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; MEI: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy. Yimer:AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Clovis Oncology: Equity Ownership; Puma Biotechnology: Equity Ownership; Amgen: Consultancy. Boxer:Gerson Lerman: Consultancy; Best Doctors: Consultancy; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Burke:Celgene: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Babu:Genentech: Research Funding. Li:Genentech: Employment; Roche: Equity Ownership. Mun:Genentech: Employment, Equity Ownership. Trask:Genentech: Employment, Equity Ownership. Masaquel:Roche: Equity Ownership; Genentech: Employment. Sharman:Acerta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: GAZYVA (obinutuzumab) is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody and is indicated: in combination with chlorambucil, for the treatment of patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia; in combination with bendamustine followed by GAZYVA monotherapy, for the treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) who relapsed after, or are refractory to, a rituximab-containing regimen </jats:sec