Vascular endothelial growth factor expression, S-phase fraction and thymidylate synthase quantitation in node-positive colon cancer: Relationships with tumor recurrence and resistance to adjuvant chemotherapy

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Fighting autoinflammation in FIRES: The role of interleukins and early immunomodulation

Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a challenging condition with unfavorable outcome in most cases. Preliminary evidence suggests that some interleukins, in particular IL-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1RA), could be elevated due to a functional deficiency of anti-inflammatory pathways. Therefore, treatment strategies acting on innate immunity could represent a targeted treatment. We describe the case of an 11-year-old child with super-refractory status epilepticus (SE), lasting more than two months. After being treated aggressively with antiseizure medications, anesthetics and empiric treatment for autoimmune encephalitis without success, she responded to anakinra and ketogenic diet. Escalation of the therapy was supported by the finding of a very high serum level of IL-1RA. This immunomodulatory approach allowed to discharge the child from intensive care 48 days after the SE onset. After more than one year follow-up the patient has moderate intellectual disability but with good language skills; she is seizure free and without motor deficits. This case suggests that serum IL-1RA serum levels may help to support treatment escalation. Moreover, anakinra and ketogenic diet represent encouraging immunomodulatory strategies which deserve further studies and could potentially have a synergistic effect. Finally, structured neuropsychological testing is an important outcome measure that will help to define the effectiveness of different treatment strategies

An analysis of p53, BAX and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in node-positive rectal cancer. Relationships with tumour recurrence and event-free survival of patients treated with adjuvant chemoradiation

Tumours of patients with node-positive rectal cancer were studied by immunohistochemistry for p53, BAX and vascular endothelial growth factor expressions. Results were correlated to the relapse rate, the pattern of relapse and the event-free survival after radical surgery and adjuvant chemoradiation. After a median follow-up of 60 months, 39 patients remained disease-free and 40 patients relapsed (18 local relapses and 22 distant metastases). The majority of disease-free patients showed p53 negative and vascular endothelial growth factor negative tumours. Local relapses occurred more frequently in patients with p53 overexpressing tumours (P<0.01), while distant metastases were in patients with vascular endothelial growth factor positive tumours (P<0.003). Patients with p53 negative or vascular endothelial growth factor negative tumours showed better event-free survival than patients with p53 positive or vascular endothelial growth factor positive tumours. BAX analysis did not show any association with patients' outcome and it was unrelated to the p53 status. Adjuvant treatment strategies for node-positive rectal cancer may be improved by identifying categories of high-risk patients. In this study, vascular endothelial growth factor and p53 expressions correlated with recurrent disease, pattern of relapse and poor event-free survival

Degraded terpenes of Taxodioxylon Gypsaceum and its likely original terpene composition

MyScience is a primary science education initiative in which being in a community of practice is integral to the learning process. In this initiative, stakeholder groups—primary teachers, primary students and mentors—interact around the ‘domain’ of ‘investigating scientifically’. This paper builds on three earlier publications and interprets the findings of the views of four secondary science teachers and five year 9 secondary science students who were first-timer participants—as mentors—in MyScience. Perceptions of these mentors’ interactions with primary students were analysed using attributes associated with both ‘communities of practice’ and the ‘nature of science’. Findings reveal that participation in MyScience changed secondary science teachers’ views and practices about how to approach the teaching of science in secondary school and fostered primary–secondary links. Year 9 students positively changed their views about secondary school science and confidence in science through participation as mentors. Implications for secondary science teaching and learning through participation in primary school community of science practice settings are discussed

Investigation on Terpene-Related Hydrocarbons from a Pliocenic Fossil Wood

Gas chromatographic and mass spctrometric (GC-MS) analysis of a steam distillate from a pliocenic lignite revealed the presence of hydrocarbons with sesqui- and diterpene skeleta. The compounds identified are characterized by alicyclic or aromatic stable structures which mainly have cadinane, selinane and abietane skeletons. While the main compound do not bleong to particular botanical family, some minor constituents such as alpha-cedrane appear to be related to the cupressaceae family, even if further identification are needed. With regard to the process of diagenesis, this has been quite mild because oleoresins have remained inside the bulk, unlike in many European lignites where resins have migrated outsid