Citations

ABSTRACT We recently described a sonication technique for the diagnosis of prosthetic knee and hip infections. We compared periprosthetic tissue culture to implant sonication followed by sonicate fluid culture for the diagnosis of prosthetic shoulder infection. One hundred thirty-six patients undergoing arthroplasty revision or resection were studied; 33 had definite prosthetic shoulder infections and 2 had probable prosthetic shoulder infections. Sonicate fluid culture was more sensitive than periprosthetic tissue culture for the detection of definite prosthetic shoulder infection (66.7 and 54.5%, respectively; P = 0.046). The specificities were similar (98.0% and 95.1%, respectively; P = 0.26). Propionibacterium acnes was the commonest species detected among culture-positive definite prosthetic shoulder infection cases by periprosthetic tissue culture (38.9%) and sonicate fluid culture (40.9%). All subjects from whom P. acnes was isolated from sonicate fluid were male. We conclude that sonicate fluid culture is useful for the diagnosis of prosthetic shoulder infection.

SummaryWe report a 16‐month‐old asymptomatic male with enzyme confirmed isovaleric acidaemia (IVA; isovaleryl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency; OMIM 243500) who, upon routine nutritional follow‐up, presented evidence of peroxisomal dysfunction. The newborn screen (2 days of life) revealed elevated C5‐carnitine (2.95 μmol/L; cutoff <0.09 μmol/L) and IVA was subsequently confirmed by metabolic profiling and in vitro enzymology. Plasma essential fatty acid (EFA) analysis, assessed to evaluate nutritional status during protein restriction and l‐carnitine supplementation, revealed elevated C26:0 (5.0 μmol/L; normal <1.3). Subsequently, metabolic profiling and molecular genetic analysis confirmed X‐linked adrenoleukodystrophy (XALD). Identification of co‐inherited XALD with IVA in this currently asymptomatic patient holds significant treatment ramifications for the proband prior to the onset of neurological sequelae, and critically important counselling implications for this family.

Abstract A recent genome-wide association study found that genetic variants on chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 19 and X were associated with prostate cancer risk. We evaluated the most significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in these loci using a worldwide consortium of 13 groups (PRACTICAL). Blood DNA from 7,370 prostate cancer cases and 5,742 male controls was analyzed by genotyping assays. Odds ratios (OR) associated with each genotype were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Six of the seven SNPs showed clear evidence of association with prostate cancer (P = 0.0007-P = 10−17). For each of these six SNPs, the estimated per-allele OR was similar to those previously reported and ranged from 1.12 to 1.29. One SNP on 3p12 (rs2660753) showed a weaker association than previously reported [per-allele OR, 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.16; P = 0.06) versus 1.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.31)]. The combined risks associated with each pair of SNPs were consistent with a multiplicative risk model. Under this model, and in combination with previously reported SNPs on 8q and 17q, these loci explain 16% of the familial risk of the disease, and men in the top 10% of the risk distribution have a 2.1-fold increased risk relative to general population rates. This study provides strong confirmation of these susceptibility loci in multiple populations and shows that they make an important contribution to prostate cancer risk prediction. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(8):2052–61)

PurposeA phase I first-in-human study was conducted to characterize the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties of the anti–insulinlike growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR) monoclonal antibody CP-751,871.Patients and MethodsAfter informed consent and screening, 47 patients with multiple myeloma in relapse or refractory phase were enrolled into 11 dose-escalation cohorts of CP-751,871 at doses from 0.025 to 20 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Patients with less than a partial response to CP-751,871 treatment were eligible to receive CP-751,871 in combination with oral dexamethasone at the discretion of the investigator. Treatment with CP-751,871 and rapamycin with or without dexamethasone was also offered to patients enrolled in the 10 and 20 mg/kg cohorts with less than a partial response to initial therapy with single-agent CP-751,871.ResultsNo CP-751,871-related dose-limiting toxicities were identified. Plasma CP-751,871 concentrations increased with dose and concentration-time profiles were consistent with those of antibodies with target-mediated disposition. Importantly, CP-751,871 administration led to a decrease in granulocyte IGF-IR expression and serum insulinlike growth factor 1 accumulation at high doses, suggesting systemic IGF-IR inhibition. Tumor response was assessed according to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation criteria. Nine responses were reported in 27 patients treated with CP-751,871 in combination with dexamethasone. Of interest, two of the patients with a partial response were progressing from dexamethasone treatment at study entry.ConclusionThese data indicate that CP-751,871 is well tolerated and may constitute a novel agent in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

ABSTRACT We tested the activity of anidulafungin against 30 Candida albicans isolates. The planktonic MICs for 50 and 90% of the isolates tested (MIC 50 and MIC 90 ) were ≤0.03 and 0.125 μg/ml, respectively (MIC range, ≤0.03 to 2 μg/ml). The sessile MIC 50 and MIC 90 were ≤0.03 and ≤0.03 μg/ml, respectively (MIC range, ≤0.03 to >16 μg/ml).

AbstractThe immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC) assay is an invaluable tool for following patients with oligosecretory plasma cell dyscrasia. Baseline values have also been shown to be prognostic in all plasma cell disorders tested. A looming question, however, is the role it should play in following myeloma patients with disease that is measurable using serum and urine electrophoresis. We used the data and stored samples from a mature Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group clinical trial (E9486) to assess serum levels of FLC at baseline and after 2 months of alkylator-based therapy. For serial determinations, the absolute level of involved serum FLC or the difference of the involved and uninvolved FLC is preferred over the ratio of involved to uninvolved FLC. FLC response after 2 months of therapy was superior to early M-protein measurement to predict overall response. The ideal cut-point for FLC change appears to be between 40% and 50% reduction. The correlation between serial measurements of serum FLC and urine M-protein is inadequate to abolish the serial 24-hour urine protein. Although baseline values of FLC are prognostic in newly diagnosed myeloma patients, serial measurements do not appear to have added value in patients who have M-proteins measurable by electrophoresis.