Decomposing the effect of supplier development on relationship benefits: The role of relational capital

Buyers invest considerably in developing their suppliers, yet the performance effects of such investments are not universal. Drawing on social capital theory, this research investigates whether the relationship between supplier development and relationship benefits may be facilitated by the generation of relational capital. The authors examine mediating and moderating roles of relational capital in the relationship between two aspects of supplier development (capability development, supplier governance) and two dimensions of relationship benefits (supplier benefits, buyer benefits), using survey data collected from 185 suppliers of a large manufacturing firm. Investment in supplier development does not automatically result in benefits for the supplier or reciprocated benefits for the buyer. Rather, relational capital "bridges" supplier development and relationship benefits. Without relational capital, benefits from capability development do not accrue, and the impact of a supplier governance regime can be even detrimental. In conditions of high relational capital, capability development results in lower perceived buyer benefits. The results can help managers ensure that the benefits from their supplier development efforts fully materialize

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Morbidity, mortality, associated injuries, and management of traumatic rib fractures

Background: Thoracic trauma is responsible for approximately 25% of trauma deaths, and rib fractures are present in as many as 40–80% of patients, and intensive care and/or ventilator support are frequently required for these patients. To identify their risk factors would improve treatment strategies for these patients. Methods: Between March 2005 and December 2013, consecutive patients with blunt thoracic trauma, who were admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Tungs' Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital (Taichung, Taiwan), were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study with the approval of the Institutional Review Board. The duration of hospital stay, ventilator support, injury severity score (ISS), type of injury, associated injuries, treatments, and mortality were analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 1621 thoracic trauma patients were included in this study, with a male majority and an age range of 18–95 years (mean age, 51.2 years). Approximately 11.7% of these patients had an ISS ≥ 16 and a mortality rate of 6.9%. Among them, 78.5% had rib fractures; 31.8%, traumatic hemothorax; 15.6%, pneumothorax; 9.6%, hemopneumothorax; and 4.6%, lung contusion. The most common associated injury was extremity fracture, followed by head injury and clavicle fracture. Surgery on the extremities (20.6% of patients) and chest tube placement (22.7% of patients) were the most common treatments. The number of rib fractures was associated with prolonged hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays (≥7 days), an ISS ≥ 16, and pulmonary complications of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and hemopneumothorax, but not with mechanical ventilator use. Furthermore, old age was significantly associated with rib fractures in patients with thoracic trauma. Conclusion: The severity of traumatic rib fractures was identified in this study. Therefore, a trauma team needs better preparation to provide effective treatment strategies when encountering thoracic trauma patients, especially patients who are older and have rib fractures

Protective Effects of Kirenol against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury through the Modulation of the Proinflammatory NFκB Pathway and the AMPK2-/Nrf2-Mediated HO-1/AOE Pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute and life-threatening inflammatory disease of the lung parenchyma that is associated with high mortality worldwide. No therapeutic strategies have been developed for the mitigation of the proinflammatory response that characterizes ALI. Kirenol has anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, and immunoregulatory effects. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of kirenol against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI in mice. Kirenol reduced the LPS-induced histopathology changes involving edema and thickening of the interstitial or alveolar walls, infiltration of leukocytes, formation of hyaline membrane. Pretreatment with kirenol reduced leukocytes infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the alveolar-capillary barrier disruption and lipid peroxidation in lung tissues induced by LPS. Kirenol significantly inhibited the secretion of cytokines, IL-1β, IL6, and TNFα, into the BALF of the mice with LPS-induced ALI through NFκB activation. Moreover, kirenol attenuated the downregulation of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase that was induced by LPS. HO-1 expression and the phosphorylation of Nrf2 and AMPK2 were also induced by kirenol. The results indicate that kirenol can be developed as a treatment strategy for ALI, and its effects are induced through the inhibition of the NF-κB proinflammatory pathway and promotion of AMPK2/Nrf2-mediated HO-1 and antioxidant enzymes (AOE) activation

Protective Effects of Kirenol against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury through the Modulation of the Proinflammatory NFκB Pathway and the AMPK2-/Nrf2-Mediated HO-1/AOE Pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute and life-threatening inflammatory disease of the lung parenchyma that is associated with high mortality worldwide. No therapeutic strategies have been developed for the mitigation of the proinflammatory response that characterizes ALI. Kirenol has anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, and immunoregulatory effects. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of kirenol against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI in mice. Kirenol reduced the LPS-induced histopathology changes involving edema and thickening of the interstitial or alveolar walls, infiltration of leukocytes, formation of hyaline membrane. Pretreatment with kirenol reduced leukocytes infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the alveolar-capillary barrier disruption and lipid peroxidation in lung tissues induced by LPS. Kirenol significantly inhibited the secretion of cytokines, IL-1β, IL6, and TNFα, into the BALF of the mice with LPS-induced ALI through NFκB activation. Moreover, kirenol attenuated the downregulation of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase that was induced by LPS. HO-1 expression and the phosphorylation of Nrf2 and AMPK2 were also induced by kirenol. The results indicate that kirenol can be developed as a treatment strategy for ALI, and its effects are induced through the inhibition of the NF-κB proinflammatory pathway and promotion of AMPK2/Nrf2-mediated HO-1 and antioxidant enzymes (AOE) activation

Abstract CT212: Expanded phase 1/2a study of PLX8394, a novel next generation BRAF inhibitor in patients with advanced, unresectable solid tumors with alterations in BRAF

Abstract The authors did not submit an updated abstract. The original abstract should be considered final. Citation Format: Filip Janku, Eric Sherman, Rona Yaeger, Aparna Parikh, Ryan Sullivan, Lynn Feun, Macarena De La Fuente, Frank Yung-Chin Tsai, Michael Gordon, Carl Allen, Marc S. Rudoltz, Kathe Balinski, Steven Averbuch, Michael Vidne, Gabi Tarcic. Expanded phase 1/2a study of PLX8394, a novel next generation BRAF inhibitor in patients with advanced, unresectable solid tumors with alterations in BRAF [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr CT212

CTNI-76. EFFICACY OF BRAF INHIBITOR PLIXORAFENIB (FORE8394) IN RECURRENT, PRIMARY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TUMORS (PCNST)

Abstract Plixorafenib, a selective potent BRAFi, is uniquely designed to disrupt BRAF dimers and evade paradoxical MAPK pathway activation. Thus, it inhibits both V600 and non-V600 BRAF alterations and may be less prone to toxicities and resistance typical of approved BRAFi. An approved BRAFi, when used with MEKi, has ORR 33% with mDOR 13.6=months and ORR=50% with DOR of 6-29 months in V600+ HGG and LGG, respectively (dabrafenib US Prescribing Information, 2023). Phase 1/2a is a single-arm study (NCT02428712) in patients (n=113) with BRAF-altered advanced tumors to assess safety, PK, and efficacy of oral plixorafenib 900-3600 mg/day alone or with cobicistat (CYP3A4/P-gp inhibitor). Symptomatic TEAEs (rash, pyrexia, myalgia) were low grade and infrequent relative to approved BRAFi. This pre-specified analysis (31Mar2023) was in MAPKi-naïve adults with BRAFV600+ PCNST. 22 patients with PCNST received plixorafenib: 9 LGG, 1 glioneuronal tumor (LGG/GNT; 5 V600+), 12 HGG (10 V600+). Treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs, ≥ 20%) were limited to LFT changes, G1 increased creatinine, fatigue, headache, and nausea. Only one G3 event (increased ALT) occurred at the RP2D (n=7) showing better tolerability than dabrafenib. 10 BRAFV600+ MAPKi-naïve adults with PCNST (median age 45 yrs, 6 females, 9 non-Hispanic) were efficacy evaluable: 6 HGG (4 glioblastoma, 1 epithelioid glioblastoma, 1 anaplastic astrocytoma); 4 LGG/GNT (1 each: ganglioglioma, pilocytic astrocytoma, xanthoastrocytoma, neuroepithelial tumor). Prior anti-cancer treatments included surgery (8/10), radiotherapy (8/10), and systemic therapy (8/10, including temozolomide [n=8], bevacizumab [n=2], carboplatin [n=1], dendritic cell vaccine [n=1]). 1 was treatment-naïve (unresectable; declined radiation/chemotherapy). ORR=60% (6/10) including HGG=67% (4/6), LGG/GNT=50% (2/4); median time to response=1.94 months; 4/6 responders with DOR > 9 months; mPFS=34.1 months; median follow-up=10.3 months; 4/10 ongoing. Plixorafenib has a benign safety profile and leads to a high ORR and durable response in MAPKi-naïve BRAFV600+ PCNST. A phase 2 study is ongoing to confirm these findings (NCT05503797)

Safety and efficacy of the novel BRAF inhibitor FORE8394 in patients with advanced solid and CNS tumors: Results from a phase 1/2a study

3006 Background: FORE8394 is an investigational inhibitor (i) of class 1 (V600) and 2 (activating non-V600) BRAF-altered tumors. FORE8394 did not have paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway in nonclinical studies. Methods: In a phase 1/2a study, patients (pts) aged ≥3 years with BRAF-altered, advanced solid or CNS tumors received FORE8394 (900-3600 mg/day or mg/m 2 dosing) with or without a pharmacokinetic booster (cobicistat 150 mg/day). CNS metastases and prior treatment with other BRAFi were allowed. Besides standard safety assessments, skin and eye exams were required. Objective response was assessed by RECIST v1.1 or RANO criteria. Efficacy was evaluated in pts with class 1/2 BRAF alterations and ≥1 post-baseline assessment, with mg/m 2 dosing (n=4) reported separately. Results: On 21Nov2022, 110 pts had received ≥1 dose of FORE8394. 85% completed ≥1 4-week cycle. 10 (9%) and 3 (3%) received FORE8394 ≥2 and ≥6 years, respectively; 14 (13%) are ongoing. Pts included 61 (55%) class 1 mutations, 19 (17%) class 2 mutations (excluding fusions), and 17 (15%) BRAF fusions. 64 pts (58%) had ≥2 prior lines of systemic therapy; 28 (25%) received prior MAPKi. Increased ALT (39%), increased AST (35%), fatigue (34%), nausea (27%), diarrhea (22%), and vomiting (20%) were the most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs); most were grade (G) 1/2. G3+ TEAEs were reported in 49% (54/110), the most common being increased ALT (9%), increased blood bilirubin (6%), and hyponatremia (5%). Transient G1 pyrexia was observed in 8 (7%) pts. All rashes were G1; none required a dose change. No TEAE of hyperkeratosis, papilloma, uveitis, retinal detachment, or LVEF reduction were reported. 1 pt discontinued due to FORE8394-related TEAE. Antitumor activity was observed in pts with MAPKi-naïve, V600 mutant tumors (excluding colorectal cancer [CRC]), 39% (9/23) having a PR (median duration of response [DoR]: 32 months). In 17 pts with V600 mutated tumors (excluding CRC) treated with prior MAPKi, 3 (18%) had PR and 5 (29%) had SD. In V600 mutated tumors, PRs occurred in 6 (55%) gliomas, 3 (100%) ovarian cancers, and 1 each in CRC (7%), small bowel (50%), papillary thyroid (13%) and anaplastic thyroid (25%) cancers. Of pts with BRAF-fusions, a pt with AGK-BRAF-fused melanoma had CR (DoR 51.8+ months); 46% (6/13) had SD. Of note, 1 child with V600E mutated Langerhans cell histiocytosis had SD with improvement in neurodegenerative changes and a progression-free survival of 55.8+ months. Conclusions: As single agent anticancer therapy, FORE8394 had antitumor activity in various tumors with BRAF alterations, including pts previously treated with MAPKi and pts with BRAF fusions. Durable tolerability was observed, and TEAEs indicative of paradoxical MAPK activation were not observed, consistent with the novel mechanism of action of FORE8394. These results support further evaluation of FORE8394. Clinical trial information: NCT02428712