FDA approves new uses for two drugs administered together for the treatment of BRAF-positive anaplastic thyroid cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib), administered together, for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) that cannot be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and has a type of abnormal gene, BRAF V600E (BRAF V600E mutation-positive). Read the FDA's press release for more information.

The post FDA approves new uses for two drugs administered together for the treatment of BRAF-positive anaplastic thyroid cancer appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

https://ift.tt/2JWDGmi

FDA approves new uses for two drugs administered together for the treatment of BRAF-positive anaplastic thyroid cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib), administered together, for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) that cannot be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and has a type of abnormal gene, BRAF V600E (BRAF V600E mutation-positive). Read the FDA's press release for more information.

The post FDA approves new uses for two drugs administered together for the treatment of BRAF-positive anaplastic thyroid cancer appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

https://ift.tt/2JWDGmi

The fish farm of origin is assigned by the element profile of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) scales in a simulated escape event

Publication date: October 2018
Source:Fisheries Research, Volume 206
Author(s): Belinda Flem, Tonje Fagertun Benden, Tor Erik Finne, Vidar Moen, Thor Mikkel Nordahl, Ketil Skår, Øystein Nordgulen, Arne Solli
The Norwegian aquaculture management authorities require that the sea farm of origin for escaped salmon can be identified. As a contribution to develop a reliable and feasible method for tracing escaped salmon to their sea cage of origin the proof-of-concept of the case-based red alert method 'FarmSalmTrack' is demonstrated through a simulated escape event. The 'FarmSalmTrack' method uses the trace element distribution in the scale hydroxyapatite, HAP-layer, to discriminate between groups of salmon. The case-based approach can primarily be used for larger escapes and preferably where the escaped fish are caught relatively soon after the time of escape. The method is dependent on baseline data being available from all sea farm cages potentially responsible for the escape. Classification of the escapees towards the baseline material collected from nearby sea cages holding salmon of same age and size is done in a three-step process; (1) analysis of the Sr/Ba ratio which reveals if seawater or salt are added to the hatchery tanks, (2) analysis of element profiles in the juvenile section of the scale and (3) analysis of trace element profile of the scale HAP-layer formed in seawater. Step (1) reduced the number of suspected sea cages by one half, step (2) identified the escapees' hatchery of origin and step (3) identified the sea cage of origin. The classification was based on the concentration of the elements B, Ba, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, S, Sr, U and Zn along selected sclerites. Barium was the most important element for correct classification using the elemental profile of the juvenile section of the scale, while Zn showed the strongest influence on the classification using the seawater section of the scale. Improved understanding of the incorporation of non-essential life elements and essential life elements into the bio-mineralised structures of the fish scale HAP-layer would be highly beneficial for further development of the 'FarmSalmTrack-method'.



https://ift.tt/2FNAkiY

Multi-element composition of red, white and palhete amphora wines from Alentejo by ICPMS

Publication date: October 2018
Source:Food Control, Volume 92
Author(s): Maria João Cabrita, Nuno Martins, Pedro Barrulas, Raquel Garcia, Cristina Barrocas Dias, Eva P. Pérez-Álvarez, Ana Maria Costa Freitas, Teresa Garde-Cerdán
Amphora wines also known as Vinhos de Talha are typical of Alentejo, in the south of Portugal. Crushed berries are fermented in clay vessels, regardless being white, red or a mixture of both grapes, with a minimalist intervention, resulting in white, red or palhete wines. Due to the technological differences associated to the winemaking process of these wines, the present research aimed to evaluate the mineral characterization of amphora wines with the purpose of ensuring consumer food safety and exploring the possibility of using mineral composition to establish the geographic origin of the wines. Red, white and palhete amphora wines from Vidigueira, Vila Alva, Vila de Frades and Cuba (Alentejo region) were studied. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was used and the concentration of 30 elements was determined. Data shows differences among red, white and palhete wines regarding the multi-element composition, and linear discriminant analysis allowed a classification according to the wine type and geographic origin. From all samples, only one red wine presented concentrations of Zn higher than the value published by International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV, 2015).



https://ift.tt/2jvOX1H

Ocean acidification modulates the incorporation of radio-labeled heavy metals in the larvae of the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Publication date: October 2018
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 190–191
Author(s): Narimane Dorey, Sophie Martin, François Oberhänsli, Jean-Louis Teyssié, Ross Jeffree, Thomas Lacoue-Labarthe
The marine organisms which inhabit the coastline are exposed to a number of anthropogenic pressures that may interact. For instance, the accumulation of toxic metals present in coastal waters is expected to be modified by ocean acidification through e.g. changes in physiological performance and/or elements availability. Changes in bioaccumulation due to lowering pH are likely to be differently affected depending on the nature (essential vs. non-essential) and speciation of each element. The Mediterranean is of high concern for possible cumulative effects due to strong human influences on the coastline.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ocean acidification (from pH 8.1 down to −1.0 pH units) on the incorporation kinetics of six trace metals (Mn, Co, Zn, Se, Ag, Cd, Cs) and one radionuclide (²⁴¹Am) in the larvae of an economically- and ecologically-relevant sea urchin of the Mediterranean coastline: Paracentrotus lividus. The radiolabelled metals and radionuclides added in trace concentrations allowed precise tracing of their incorporation in larvae during the first 74 h of their development.Independently of the expected indirect effect of pH on larval size/developmental rates, Paracentrotus lividus larvae exposed to decreasing pHs incorporated significantly more Mn and Ag and slightly less Cd. The incorporation of Co, Cs and ²⁴¹Am was unchanged, and Zn and Se exhibited complex incorporation behaviors. Studies such as this are necessary prerequisites to the implementation of metal toxicity mitigation policies for the future ocean. We discuss possible reasons and mechanisms for the specific effect of pH on each metals.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2FMYpGH

Formation and characterization of one-dimensional ZnS nanowires for ZnS/P3HT hybrid polymer solar cells with improved efficiency

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Applied Surface Science, Volume 451
Author(s): Katarzyna Matras-Postołek, Adam Żaba, Elżbieta M. Nowak, Paweł Dąbczyński, Jakub Rysz, Jerzy Sanetra
Photovoltaic performance of hybrid devices consisting of zinc sulphide (ZnS) one-dimensional (1D) nanowires and P3HT polymer was studied. As we previously reported, hybrid solar cell architecture based on ZnS, where open circuit voltage reaches high value, deserves special attention. In this work, compared to our previous research, zero-dimensional (0D) ZnS nanoparticles were replaced by one-dimensional (1D) ZnS nanowires synthesized simply with a hot injection method. In order to improve the charge transport in hybrid solar cells, additionally, the initial ligand of octadecylamine (ODA) was partially replaced by the o-phenylenediamine. The as-synthesized products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The performance of the devices significantly depended on the concentration of one-dimensional ZnS nanowires incorporated in the active layer (optimal 10 wt.%) and their morphology. In the presented work, we showed that devices based on 1D ZnS nanowires were distinguished by the high value of Voc parameter (with the maximum achieved value of 0.634 V). Also we investigated the spatial layout of nanocrystals in the device, depending on its post treatment, using atomic force microscopy (AFM), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Our study showed spatial segregation of nanocrystals to both interfaces with electrodes, and also we showed significant changes (0.71 eV at the top) in the PEDOT:PSS work function after mixing with ZnS nanocrystals, which resulted in an increase in the difference in contact potential at respective electrodes, which explained the high value of Voc. In comparison to our previous study, by replacing an active layer of the 0D ZnS nanocrystals with 1D ZnS nanowires, nearly a triple increase of the overall efficiency (maximum of % η of 0.568) of the device was observed.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2jyNTdo

Stress response of Triticum aestivum L. and Brassica juncea L. against heavy metals growing at distillery and tannery wastewater contaminated site

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Chemosphere, Volume 206
Author(s): Pankaj Chowdhary, Ashutosh Yadav, R. Singh, Ram Chandra, D.P. Singh, Abhay Raj, Ram Naresh Bharagava
This study aimed to investigate the effects of potentially toxic elements on biochemical parameters in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and mustard (Brassica juncea L.) plants growing at distillery and tannery wastewater contaminated sites. The analysis of plants showed the highest accumulation of Fe (361 mg kg⁻¹ in wheat root and 359 mg kg⁻¹ in mustard leaves) followed by Zn, Cr and Mn in leaf>shoot>root. Further, the Chl-a, b, and carotenoids content was also found high in plant samples. Results also showed that photosynthetic content in wheat and mustard growing at tannery wastewater contaminated sites was Chl-a 3.92, 4.53 (mg g^_1 fw), Chl-b 2.39, 1.29 (mg g^_1 fw) and carotenoids 0.28, 0.32 (mg g^_1 fw), respectively. Whereas, photosynthetic content in these plants with distillery waste was as Chl-a 3.43, 4.88 (mg g^_1 fw), Chl-b 1.12, 2.05 (mg g^_1 fw) and carotenoids 0.24, 0.29 (mg g^_1 fw), respectively. In addition, the activity of plant enzymes such as SOD, APx, GPX, MDA, H2O2, and CAT was also higher in selected plants in comparison to control plants. Moreover, the high bioconcentration factor of Zn > 1 (1.29) and translocation factor >10 (10.31) of Cr in tannery wastewater affected mustard plants. This study concluded that industrial wastewaters are the primary sources of metal accumulation in agricultural crops and thus, it should not be discharged into the environment before its proper treatment. Hence, the continuous monitoring of sludge/soil, agricultural plants and water quality are imperative for the impediment of possible health hazards to animal and human beings.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2FNh5pP