Randomized trial of two intravenous schedules of the topoisomerase I inhibitor liposomal lurtotecan in women with relapsed epithelial ovarian cancer: a trial of the national cancer institute of Canada clinical trials group.

PURPOSE: Liposomal lurtotecan (OSI-211) is a liposomal formulation of the water-soluble topoisomerase I inhibitor lurtotecan (GI147211), which demonstrated superior levels of activity compared with topotecan in preclinical models. We studied two schedules of OSI-211 in a randomized design in relapsed ovarian cancer to identify the more promising of the two schedules for further study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had measurable epithelial ovarian, fallopian, or primary peritoneal cancer that was recurrent after one or two prior regimens of chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either arm A (OSI-211 1.8 mg/m(2)/d administered by 30-minute intravenous infusion on days 1, 2, and 3 every 3 weeks) or arm B (OSI-211 2.4 mg/m(2)/d administered by 30-minute intravenous infusion on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks). The primary outcome measure was objective response, which was confirmed by independent radiologic review, and a pick the winner statistical design was used to identify the schedule most likely to be superior. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were randomized between October 2000 and September 2001. The hematologic toxic effects were greater on arm A than on arm B (grade 4 neutropenia, 51% v 22%, respectively), as was febrile neutropenia (26% v 2.4%, respectively). Of the 80 eligible patients, eight patients (10%) had objective responses; six responders (15.4%; 95% CI, 6% to 30%) were in arm A and two responders (4.9%; 95% CI, 1% to 17%) were in arm B. CONCLUSION: The OSI-211 daily for 3 days intravenous schedule met the statistical criteria to be declared the winner in terms of objective response. This schedule was also associated with more myelosuppression than the schedule of OSI-211 administered in arm B.     

维A类化合物4-APR抑制肿瘤侵袭、转移的作用

用体内外实验模型,研究了新维A类化合物4-乙酰胺苯基维A酸酯(4-APR)对肿瘤侵袭、转移的抑制作用。4-APR 43.3mg·kg^-1po即能减少小鼠Lewis肺癌的自发性肺转移瘤数。半体内实验证明4-APR10^-5mol·L^-1和10^-6mol·L^-1对B16-F10癌细胞的人工肺转移瘤数分别抑制67.9%和36.6%。体外实验显示,4-APR对B16-F10细胞侵袭重组基底膜的抑制率分别为54.2%和41.9%。     

Case study in major quotation errors: a critical commentary on the Newcastle–Ottawa scale

The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) is one of many scales used to judge the quality of observational studies in systematic reviews. It was criticized for its arbitrary definitions of quality items in a commentary in 2010 in this journal. That commentary was cited 1,250 times through December 2016. We examined the citation history of this commentary in a random sample of 100 full papers citing it, according to the Web of Science. Of these, 96 were systematic reviews, none of which quoted the commentary directly. All but 2 of the 96 indirect quotations (98%) portrayed the commentary as supporting use of the NOS in systematic reviews when, in fact, the opposite was the case. It appears that the vast majority of systematic review authors who cited this commentary did not read it. Journal reviewers and editors did not recognize and correct these major quotation errors. Authors should read each source they cite to make sure their direct and indirect quotations are accurate. Reviewers and editors should do a better job of checking citations and quotations for accuracy. It might help somewhat for commentaries to include abstracts, so that the basic content can be conveyed by PubMed and other bibliographic resources.     

Developing and Using a Common Framework to Evaluate FASD Programs: Results of a Three-Year Canadian Project

This article discusses a three-year Canadian project that created common Evaluation Frameworks for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) support programs and for FASD prevention programs (i.e., programs serving people living with FASD and programs serving pregnant women and mothers). The project’s mixed-methods approach included a comprehensive literature search and consultations across Canada with multi-disciplinary service providers, program funders, researchers, and evaluators. These activities led to development of three visual “maps” depicting evaluation of: a) FASD support programs; b) FASD prevention programs; and c) FASD programming in Aboriginal communities. In addition, the team provided mentoring and evaluation-related support to program staff, funders and/or partners of five community-based FASD-related agencies. Informed by a social determinants of health lens, the maps are comprised of concentric rings showing programs’: theoretical foundations; activities; program outcomes; and wholistic participant, community and systemic outcomes. The article also shares findings regarding the applicability and utility of the Frameworks and of evaluation-related mentoring.     

Substance Use by Women Using Domestic Violence Shelters

This study investigated the connections between stressors, substance use, and experience of violence among women (N = 125) who accessed help from domestic violence shelters in British Columbia, Canada between October 2001 and June 2003. Changes in substance use and stressors following a shelter stay were explored, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Women generally decreased their use of alcohol and stimulants, and this change was found to be integrally connected to social and structural supports made available to them. Future research that augments current stress models of addiction by considering social and structural factors that come into play in women's substance use and domestic violence is suggested. The study's limitations are noted.