Chemoimmunotherapy with ofatumumab in combination with CHOP in previously untreated follicular lymphoma

An international, Phase II trial was conducted to assess two doses of ofatumumab, a human CD20 monoclonal antibody, combined with cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m²), doxorubicin (50 mg/m²), prednisone (100 mg days 3–7) and vincristine (1·4 mg/m²) (O‐CHOP), as frontline treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL). 59 patients with previously untreated FL were randomized to ofatumumab 500 mg (n = 29) or 1000 mg (n = 30) day 1, with CHOP on day 3 every 3 weeks for six cycles. Median duration of FL was 0·1 years for both dose groups; 34% and 38% of patients had high‐risk Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) scores in the 500‐ and 1000‐mg dose groups, respectively. Overall response rate was 90% for the 500‐mg group and 100% for the 1000‐mg group. 62% of patients achieved complete response (CR)/unconfirmed CR (CRu). 76% of patients with FLIPI score 3–5 attained CR/CRu. Longer follow‐up time is needed for analysis of survival end points. The most common Common Terminology Criteria grade 3–4 investigator‐reported adverse events were leucopenia (29%) and neutropenia (22%). No deaths have been reported. O‐CHOP was safe and efficacious in patients with previously untreated FL, including high‐risk FLIPI groups. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00494780).     

Suicide in Ethiopian Immigrants in Israel: A Case for Study of the Genetic-Environmental Relation in Suicide

Girard (1993) suggests that age and gender specific suicide patterns can be predicted by economic progress. However, human development, especially the empowerment of women, is also an integral part of advancement. India consists of 24 states, at various stages of development, with diverse suicide patterns. Statistical analyses were conducted on suicide data from 14 Indian states (1997). Human development factors did predict suicide rates for both genders, but there was no significant relationship between suicide rates and economic factors. Moreover, when human development and economic factors were used as multinomial logit estimators, they failed to clearly predict probabilities of specific age and gender suicide patterns. Findings support the view that explanations for disparity in suicide rates appear to be more complicated for less developed nations than they are for developed countries.