Managing Pharmacotherapy in People Living With HIV and Concomitant Malignancy.

Objective: To describe data with selected malignancies in people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV in individuals affected by both conditions and to summarize drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with clinical recommendations for point-of-care review of combination therapies. Data Sources: Literature searches were performed (2005 to December 2018) in MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies of malignancies in PLWH in the modern era. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Article bibliographies and drug interaction databases were reviewed. Search terms included HIV, antiretroviral therapy, antineoplastic agents, malignancies, and drug interactions. Data Synthesis: In the pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) era, malignancies in PLWH were AIDS-defining illnesses, and life expectancy was shorter. Nowadays, PLWH are living longer and developing malignancies, including lung, anal, and prostate cancers. Concurrently, the oncology landscape has evolved, with novel oral targeted agents and immunotherapies becoming routine elements of care. The increased need for and complexity with antineoplastics in PLWH has led to recommendations for multidisciplinary care of this unique population. Evaluation of DDIs requires review of metabolic pathways, absorption mechanisms, and various drug transporters associated with antineoplastics and ART. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: This review summarizes available data of non-AIDS-defining malignancies, principles of HIV care in the patient with malignancy, and guidance for assessing DDIs between antineoplastics and ART. Summary DDI tables provide point-of-care recommendations. Conclusions: The availability of ART has transformed AIDS into a chronic medical condition, and PLWH are experiencing age-related malignancies. Pharmacists play an important role in the management of this patient population

Bank Risk Taking Behaviour In Malaysia: Role Of Board And Ownership Structure

This paper examines the role of board structure and ownership concentration on bank risktaking of public listed commercial banks in Malaysia from 2001 to 2012. The study focuses on the bank-risk taking behaviour after the major bank consolidation in Malaysia in year 2000. Using two-market model to estimate the risk of the commercial banks in Malaysia, the results suggest that higher ownership concentration and larger board size resulted in higher bank risk-taking of the listed commercial banks in Malaysia. Given that the board structure is an important element of bank risk-taking, regulators should continue to enhance the monitoring of banks (where board size is large and ownership concentration is high) to control the banks’ potential for excessive risk takin

Implementation Strategies for a Graduate eCommerce Curriculum

This paper examines the strategies used in the implementation of DePaul University\u27s pioneering master\u27s degree in E-Commerce Technology. These strategies emphasize curriculum development, technical support, faculty staffing, marketing, industry partnership, and organization support. The lessons learned from DePaul\u27s implementation experience during this first year will offer other schools unique insights for introducing their e-commerce curriculum

Is Melanoma a stem cell tumor? Identification of neurogenic proteins in trans-differentiated cells

BACKGROUND: Although several genes and proteins have been implicated in the development of melanomas, the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of these tumors are not well understood. To gain a better understanding of the relationship between the cell growth, tumorigenesis and differentiation, we have studied a highly malignant cat melanoma cell line that trans-differentiates into neuronal cells after exposure to a feline endogenous retrovirus RD114. METHODS: To define the repertoire of proteins responsible for the phenotypic differences between melanoma and its counterpart trans-differentiated neuronal cells we have applied proteomics technology and compared protein profiles of the two cell types and identified differentially expressed proteins by 2D-gel electrophoresis, image analyses and mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The melanoma and trans-differentiated neuronal cells could be distinguished by the presence of distinct sets of proteins in each. Although approximately 60–70% of the expressed proteins were shared between the two cell types, twelve proteins were induced de novo after infection of melanoma cells with RD114 virus in vitro. Expression of these proteins in trans-differentiated cells was significantly associated with concomitant down regulation of growth promoting proteins and up-regulation of neurogenic proteins (p = < 0.001). Based on their physiologic properties, >95% proteins expressed in trans-differentiated cells could be associated with the development, differentiation and regulation of nervous system cells. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the cat melanoma cells have the ability to differentiate into distinct neuronal cell types and they express proteins that are essential for self-renewal. Since melanocytes arise from the neural crest of the embryo, we conclude that this melanoma arose from embryonic precursor stem cells. This model system provides a unique opportunity to identify domains of interactions between the expressed proteins that halt the tumorigenic potential of melanoma cells and drive them toward neurogenerative pathways involved in early neurogenesis. A better understanding of these proteins in a well-coordinated signaling network would also help in developing novel approaches for suppression of highly malignant tumors that arise from stem-like embryonic cells

Writing Business Plans for a Life Science Startup or Clinical Program

The business plan is an important tool for raising capital, finding strategic partners, recruit­ing, and providing an internal guide on how to drive a company’s growth. The plan should include an executive overview, introduction to the management team, market and competitive analyses, value proposition, operating plan, financial projections, and potential risks. The plan should be concise, well written, and dynamic. Details behind key assumptions should be included. Common business plan pitfalls include focusing only on the product without framing it in the context of the consumers/patients, the market dynamics, and the ecosystem in which it will be launched, as well as giving financials that are too aggressive and precise given the stage the company is in. New founders should consider engaging experts to help test assumptions as they develop the key parts of the business plan, including the financial projections. Many of the same concepts for writing a business plan for a startup apply to creating a business plan for a new clinical program or expanding operations within a health system

Innovative unit delivery : the supported cloud

Deakin University has recently moved to an academic calendar of three trimesters. This change aims to provide students with greater flexibility to plan their study around work or life commitments, create options for students to commence their degree and enable students to fast track their study. It has been found for students in the Bachelor of Construction Management that engagement and satisfaction during summer (Trimester 3) are less than when those same units are delivered during other trimesters. This research addresses the use of Supported Cloud learning to improve learning and the relationship with students. The School of Architecture and Built Environment used two units as case studies to examine different innovative unit delivery strategies that combined cloud and located learning. The research design included evaluation surveys, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews as well as reflection by participating teachers. The findings show that students&rsquo; results are improved when the cloud based learning is supported by well-developed resources, structured delivery and availability of some face-to-face contacts. This innovation will serve as a benchmark for Cloud delivery in the School in all trimesters

microRNAs: new insights into the pathogenesis of endodontic periapical disease

Apical periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the periradicular tissues caused by the host's immune response to infection of the root canal system. MicroRNAs (miRNA) have been shown to play an important role in the regulation of inflammation and the immune response; however, their role in the pathogenesis of endodontic periapical disease has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the differential expression of miRNAs in diseased periapical tissues as compared to healthy periodontal ligament and pulp tissues. miRNA profiles were assessed using microarray technology and expression levels of selected miRNAs linked to inflammation and the immune response were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Of the 381 miRNAs identified using microarray, 24 miRNAs were down-regulated in diseased periapical tissues compared to controls (n=13) (P<0.003). Down-regulation of 7 of 9 selected miRNAs was confirmed by qRT-PCR in a separate set of diseased and healthy tissues (n=19) (P<0.05). Target genes of these miRNAs include key mediators in the immune and inflammatory response such as of IL-6, MMP-9 and TGF-B;. These findings offer new insight into the pathogenesis of endodontic disease and have the potential to impact the development of new methods for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of apical periodontitis.Master of Scienc