Among the FG-labeled neurons, 180(89%) were TRPV1 positive, of wh

Among the FG-labeled neurons, 180(89%) were TRPV1 positive, of which 123 co-expressed 200-kDa neurofilaments (NF200), which is specific for myelinated nerve fibers. Among the FG-labeled neurons

that expressed both TRPV1 and NF200, 37 had relatively large cell diameters (>26 mu m) (range: 12-38 mu m). In conclusion, in infant rats, most cardiac afferent neurons (both myelinated and unmyelinated) LY2835219 molecular weight in the NG may express TRPV1 receptors. Although functional properties such as those related to the arterial baroreflex may vary among the neurons, our results suggest that, in immature animals, TRPV1 receptors help convey cardiac sensations and control autonomic reflexes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The flavoprotein cholesterol oxidase (CO) from Brevibacterium sterolicum is a monomeric flavoenzyme containing one molecule of FAD cofactor covalently linked to His69. The elimination of the covalent link following the His69Ala substitution was demonstrated

to result in a significant decrease in activity, in the midpoint redox potential of the flavin, and in stability with respect to the wild-type enzyme, but does not modify the overall structure of the enzyme. We used CO as a model system to dissect the changes due to the elimination of the covalent link between the flavin and the protein ( by comparing the wild-type and H69A CO holoproteins) with those due to the elimination of the cofactor ( by comparing the holo- and apoprotein forms of H69A CO). The apoprotein of H69A CO lacks the characteristic tertiary SRT1720 datasheet Apoptosis inhibitor structure of the holoprotein and displays larger hydrophobic surfaces; its urea-induced unfolding does not occur by a simple two-state mechanism and is largely nonreversible. Minor alterations in the flavin binding region are evident between the native and the refolded proteins, and are likely responsible for the low refolding

yield observed. A model for the equilibrium unfolding of H69A CO that also takes into consideration the effects of cofactor binding and dissociation, and thus may be of general significance in terms of the relationships between cofactor uptake and folding in flavoproteins, is presented.”
“The human adrenal cortex expresses low levels of luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptors (LHCGR), a characteristic gonad-specific G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). LHCGR levels increase in the adrenal cortex after exposure to chronically elevated gonadotropins (e.g. after gonadectomy). In fact, heightened ectopic LHCGR levels are observed in a subclass of human adrenocortical tumors, and gonadotropin-responsive adrenocortical hyperplasia and tumors occur in several animal species. These findings suggest that adrenocortical responsiveness to LH/CG might be a physiological phenomenon that is amplified in the presence of elevated gonadotropin levels.

The

level of angiotensin II receptor type 1 or type 2 mRN

The

level of angiotensin II receptor type 1 or type 2 mRNA transcription was measured by means of a semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. Expression of angiotensin II receptor type 1 or type 2 protein was detected by means of immunohistochemistry assay and Western blot analysis.

Results: The inner diameter of the left atrium was clearly enlarged in the atrial fibrillation group in comparison with that seen in the sinus rhythm group. The expression levels of both angiotensin II receptor type 1 mRNA and protein in the left atrial tissue were significantly increased in the patients with atrial fibrillation compared with those seen in patients with sinus rhythm (P < .05). Interestingly, the comparison of angiotensin II receptor type 2 expression levels in the left atrial tissue between these 2 groups is not statistically significant. In addition, the results of angiotensin II receptor type 1 or 2 expression in Elafibranor WZB117 chemical structure the right atrial tissue did not show any obvious change in the patients with atrial fibrillation versus those with sinus rhythm.

Conclusions: Expression of angiotensin II receptor type 1 but not type 2 is highly upregulated only in the

left atrial tissue of patients with rheumatic valvular disease with atrial fibrillation. This suggests that there is a possible pathophysiologic role of the renin-angiotensin system in patients with atrial fibrillation and that a series of effects mediated by the activation of angiotensin II receptor type 1 in the left atrial tissue might be one of the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of atrial remodeling in atrial fibrillation.

MK5108 (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010;140:298-304)”
“Developmental dyslexia is a language-based learning disability, and a number of candidate dyslexia susceptibility genes have been identified, including DYX1C1, KIAA0319, and DCDC2. Knockdown of function by embryonic transfection of small hairpin RNA (shRNA) of rat homologues of these genes dramatically disrupts neuronal migration to the cerebral cortex by both cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous effects. Here we sought to investigate the extent of non-cell autonomous effects following in utero disruption of the candidate dyslexia susceptibility gene homolog Dyx1c1 by assessing the effects of this disruption on GABAergic neurons. We transfected the ventricular zone of embryonic day (E) 15.5 rat pups with either Dyx1c1 shRNA, DYX1C1 expression construct, both Dyx1c1 shRNA and DYX1C1 expression construct, or a scrambled version of Dyx1c1 shRNA, and sacrificed them at postnatal day 21. The mothers of these rats were injected with BrdU at either E13.5, E15.5, or E17.5. Neurons transfected with Dyx1c1 shRNA were bi-modally distributed in the cerebral cortex with one population in heterotopic locations at the white matter border and another migrating beyond their expected location in the cerebral cortex.

1 +/- 0 3, 4 4 +/- 0 3 x 10(6)/L) vs the thrombus group (1 7 +/-

1 +/- 0.3, 4.4 +/- 0.3 x 10(6)/L) vs the thrombus group (1.7 +/- 0.2, 1.3 +/- 0.4 x 10(6)/L). The organization and recanalization of thrombi in treatment group progressed more quickly compared with the thrombus group (P < .01). The macrophage number of the thrombus in the treatment group (338 +/- 26 cells/15 high-power fields) increased significantly vs the thrombus group (125 +/- 11 cells/15 high-power fields, P < .01). No statistical difference was observed between the thrombus and treatment group in the MCP-1 and MIP-1 alpha level in peripheral blood. Expressions of the CCR2 gene in the peripheral blood of the treatment group significantly increased compared

with the thrombus group (P < .05). Recombinant human G-CSF induced higher expression of CCR2 protein find more of human monocytic cell line THP-1.

Conclusions: Bone marrow mobilization enhanced the resolution and recanalization of venous thrombi. This process was associated with increased macrophage accumulation in thrombi, which might be the result of higher CCR2 expression of monocytes.”
“Parkinson’s disease is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic Smad inhibitor neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. Thus, therapeutic approaches that

improve mitochondrial function may prove to be beneficial. Previously,

we have documented that near-infrared light via light-emitting diode (LED) treatment was therapeutic to neurons functionally inactivated by tetrodotoxin, potassium cyanide (KCN), or methanol intoxication, and LED pretreatment rescued neurons from KCN-induced apoptotic cell death. The current study tested our hypothesis that LED treatment can protect neurons from both rotenone- and MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity. Primary cultures of postnatal rat striatal and cortical neurons served as models, and the optimal frequency of LED treatment per day was also determined. Results indicated that LED treatments twice a day significantly increased cellular adenosine triphosphate content, decreased the number of neurons XL184 supplier undergoing cell death, and significantly reduced the expressions of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in rotenone- or MPP(+)-exposed neurons as compared with untreated ones. These results strongly suggest that LED treatment may be therapeutic to neurons damaged by neurotoxins linked to Parkinson’s disease by energizing the cells and increasing their viability. (C) 2008 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“We report a minimally invasive, hybrid endovascular approach that was used to treat two patients with aberrant right subclavian arteries. The first patient was a 50-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia lusoria.

However, fluctuating environments likely favor a rise in redundan

However, fluctuating environments likely favor a rise in redundancy over time. With greater redundancy, investment per individual control structure declines, causing a decay in the performance of each individual dimension of control. I conclude that the costs of control structures may influence regulatory architecture. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Many emerging and reemerging viruses, such as rabies, SARS, Marburg, and Ebola have bat populations as disease reservoirs. Understanding the

spillover from bats to humans and other animals, and the associated health risks requires an analysis of the disease dynamics in bat populations. Traditional compartmental epizootic models, which are relatively easy to implement and analyze, usually impose unrealistic aggregation assumptions about disease-related structure and depend on parameters www.selleckchem.com/products/bv-6.html that frequently are not measurable in field

conditions. We propose a novel combination of computational and adaptive modeling approaches that address the maintenance of emerging diseases in bat colonies through individual (intra-host) models of the response of the host to a viral challenge. The dynamics of the individual models are used to define survival, susceptibility and transmission conditions relevant to epizootics as well as to develop and parametrize models of the disease evolution into uniform and diverse populations. Applications of the proposed approach to modeling the effects of immunological heterogeneity on the dynamics of bat rabies are presented. DihydrotestosteroneDHT nmr (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The divalent cation copper (Cu2+) has been shown to inhibit chloride currents mediated by the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR). Here, we analyzed Cu2+ inhibition of homo- and hetero-oligomeric GlyRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes. No significant

differences in Cu2+ inhibitory potency were found between alpha 1, alpha 2 and alpha 3 GlyRs as well as heteromeric alpha 1 beta receptors. Furthermore, GlyR alpha 1 mutations known to reduce inhibition or potentiation of GlyR currents by Zn2+ had no effect on Cu2+ inhibition. However, Cu2+ was found to competitively antagonize glycine binding, suggesting that Cu2+ binds at learn more the agonistbinding site. Mutations within the glycine-binding site of the GlyR alpha 1 subunit reduced the inhibitory potency of Cu2+ and led to an up to 4-fold potentiation of glycine-elicited currents by Cu2+. Molecular dynamics simulation suggests this to be due to increased Cu2+ binding energies. Our data show that GlyR binding-site mutations can convert inhibitors of agonist binding into highly effective positive modulators. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The dihydropyridines (DHPs), nifedipine and nicardipine, modulate native glycine receptors (GlyRs) at micromolar concentrations. Nicardipine has a biphasic potentiating and inhibitory effect, whereas nifedipine causes inhibition only.

Upon subsequent exposure to the A rotation 24 h later, the rate o

Upon subsequent exposure to the A rotation 24 h later, the rate of re-adaptation was lower in the stimulation condition than that present in the conventional condition. These results support the assertion that primary motor cortex assumes a key role in a network that mediates adaptation to visuomotor perturbation, and emphasise that it is engaged functionally during the early phase of learning. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Prestimulation of the TLR4 pathway with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) protects mice Selleck NSC23766 from lethal infection with H5N1 influenza virus. Here, we reveal

that the TLR4-TRIF pathway is required for this protective effect by using mice whose TLR4-related molecules were knocked out. Microarray analysis of primary mouse lung culture cells that were LPS pretreated and infected with an H5N1 virus indicated that TLR3 mRNA was upregulated. Primary lung culture cells of TLR3 knockout mice showed no response to LPS pretreatment against H5N1 virus infection, suggesting that TLR3 is also involved in the preventive effect of LPS. Our data suggest that the TLR4-TRIF axis has an important role in stimulating protective innate immunity against H5N1 influenza A virus infection

and that TLR3 signaling is involved in this pathway.”
“The https://www.selleckchem.com/products/jq-ez-05-jqez5.html authors review a range of evidence concerning the motivational underpinnings of anger as an affect, with particular reference Dorsomorphin chemical structure to the relationship

between anger and anxiety or fear. The evidence supports the view that anger relates to an appetitive or approach motivational system, whereas anxiety relates to an aversive or avoidance motivational system. This evidence appears to have 2 implications. One implication concerns the nature of anterior cortical asymmetry effects. The evidence suggests that such asymmetry reflects direction of motivational engagement (approach vs. withdrawal) rather than affective valence. The other implication concerns the idea that affects form a purely positive dimension and a purely negative dimension, which reflect the operation of appetitive and aversive motivational systems, respectively. The evidence reviewed does not support that view. The evidence is, however, consistent with a discrete-emotions view (which does not rely on dimensionality) and with an alternative dimensional approach.”
“The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) genes are critical regulators of multiple pathways that control cell death, proliferation, and differentiation. Several members of the IAP family regulate innate and adaptive immunity through modulation of signal transduction pathways, cytokine production, and cell survival.

In this preliminary investigation, we used Positron Emission Tomo

In this preliminary investigation, we used Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with the benzodiazepine receptor PET ligand [C-11]Ro15-4513 to measure alpha 1 and alpha 5 subtypes of the GABA(A) receptor levels in the brain of three adult males with well-characterized selleck products high-functioning ASD compared with three healthy matched volunteers. We found significantly lower [C-11]Ro15-4513 binding throughout the brain of participants with ASD (p < 0.0001) compared with controls. Planned

region of interest analyses also revealed significant reductions in two limbic brain regions, namely the amygdala and nucleus accumbens bilaterally. Further analysis suggested that these results were driven by lower levels of the GABA(A) alpha 5 subtype. These results provide initial evidence of a GABA(A) alpha 5 deficit in ASD and support further investigations of the GABA system in this disorder.

This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘Neurodevelopmental Disorders’. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Nonstructural protein 5A Selleck SCH772984 (NS5A) is essential for hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and assembly and is a critical drug target. Biochemical data suggest large parts of NS5A are unfolded as an isolated protein, but little is known about its folded state in the cell. We used fluorescence resonance

energy transfer (FRET) to probe whether or not different regions of NS5A are in close proximity within the cell. Twenty-three separate reporter constructs were

created by LY3039478 in vitro inserting one or more fluorophores into different positions throughout the three domains of NS5A. FRET efficiency was maximal when donor and acceptor fluorophores were positioned next to each other but also could be observed when the two fluorophores flanked NS5A domain I or domain 3. Informatic and biochemical analysis suggests that large portions of the carboxy terminus of NS5A are in an unfolded and disordered state. Quercetin, a natural product known to disrupt NS5A function in cells, specifically disrupted a conformationally specific domain 3 FRET signal. Intermolecular FRET indicated that the NS5A amino termini, but not other regions, are in close proximity in multimeric complexes. Overall, this assay provides a new window on the intracellular conformation(s) of NS5A and how the conformation changes in response to cellular and viral components of the replication and assembly complex as well as antiviral drugs.”
“In a previous article, we discussed a theoretical framework asserting that a combination of stimulus attributes, personal attributes and environmental attributes as well as interactions among these affects engagement with stimuli by persons with dementia [Cohen-Mansfield, J., Dakheel-Ali, M., Marx, MS., 2009. Engagement in persons with dementia: The concept and its measurement. American journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 7, 299-307].

Endovascular repairs were performed within 24 hours of symptom on

Endovascular repairs were performed within 24 hours of symptom onset. Stent-grafts were deployed at the first entry tear through the femoral artery under fluoroscopic guidance. Follow-up computed tomography scans were performed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment.

Results: The mean patient age was 64 years (range, 43-83 years). There were 3 cases associated with rupture, 6 cases associated with refractory hypertension, 15 cases associated with persistent pain, 2 cases associated with retrograde dissection, and 4 cases associated with malperfusion. The technical success rate was 100%, and the incidence of immediate postoperative endoleaks was

13.4%. One patient died of dissection rupture within 30 days. The Acalabrutinib mean follow-up period was 12 +/- 8 months. A small, persistent endoleak (<10%) Tanespimycin chemical structure occurred in 1 patient, and 1

patient died of acute liver failure 2 months after the operation. No stent dislocation, false lumen expansion, or paraplegia occurred. The false lumen was completely thrombosed in 6 patients and partially thrombosed in 19 patients. The mortality rate was 6.67%.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that emergency endovascular repair of complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections within 24 hours of symptom onset is associated with good outcomes and can decrease mortality. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011;141:926-31)”
“s-IBM is the most common muscle disease of older persons. Its muscle fiber molecular phenotype has close similarities to Alzheimer disease (AD) brain, including intra-muscle-fiber accumulations of (a) A beta 42 and its oligomers, and (b) large, squiggly or linear, clusters of paired-helical filaments (PHFs) that are immunoreactive with various antibodies directed against several epitopes of phosphorylated tau (p-tau),

and thereby strongly resembling neurofibrillary tangles of AD brain. In AD brain, conformational changes of tau, including its modifications detectable with specific antibodies TG3 (recognizing phosphorylated-Thr231), and Alz50 and MC1 (both recognizing amino acids 5-15 and 312-322) are considered early and important modifications leading to tau’s abnormal folding and assembly into PHFs. We have now identified Selleck Roscovitine conformationally modified tau in 14 s-IBM muscle biopsies by (a) light-and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry, (b) immunoblots, and (c) dot-immunoblots, using TG3, Alz50 and MC1 antibodies. Our double-immunolabeling on the light- and electron-microscopic levels, which combined an antibody against p62 that recognizes s-IBM clusters of PHFs, revealed that TG3 immunodecorated, abundantly and exclusively, all p62 immunopositive clusters, while Alz50 labeling was less abundant, and MC1 was mainly diffusely immunoreactive. Interestingly, in the very atrophic degenerating fibers.

A new 3-D molecular modeling protocol (RNA2D3D) predicted that H4

A new 3-D molecular modeling protocol (RNA2D3D) predicted that H4a, H4b, H5, Psi(3), and Psi(2) are capable of simultaneous existence and bears some resemblance to a tRNA. The related Japanese iris necrotic ring virus does not have comparable domains. These results provide a framework for determining how interconnected elements participate in processes that require 3′ untranslated region sequences such as translation and replication.”
“We have recently shown that the major

histocompatibility, complex (MHC) exerts a regulatory influence on the development of neuropathic pain-like behaviors after partial sciatic nerve injury in male rats. In the present Study, we assessed the role of the MHC in peripheral nerve injury-induced pain as well Angiogenesis inhibitor as central pain following spinal cord injury in female rats using the following inbred Strains: Dark Agouti (DA: RT1(av1)), Piebald Virol Glaxo (PVG: RT1(c)) and in the MHC-congenic strain PVG-RT1(av1). In line with Our previous 5-Fluoracil cost observation in male rats, PVG-RT1(c) displayed more severe allodynia compared to the strains carrying the RT1(av1) haplotype (PVG-RT1(av1)

and DA-RT1(av1)) following sciatic nerve injury in female rats. However, the MHC did not seem to impact the development of allodynia following spinal cord injury since the two congenic strains PVG-RT1(c) and PVG-RT1(av) did not differ after spinal cord injury. Interestingly, the DA-RT1(av1) strain displayed significantly more severe allodynia LXH254 nmr than both PVG strains and this difference was not explained by the extent of spinal cord injury. These results Suggest that there are differences in the

genetic mechanisms for neuropathic pain development following peripheral or central nervous system injury, both in regarding to the role of the MHC complex as well as non-MHC genes. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Zoonotic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) likely evolved to infect humans by a series of transmission events between humans and animals in markets in China. Virus sequence data suggest that the palm civet served as an amplification host in which civet and human interaction fostered the evolution of the epidemic SARS Urbani strain. The prototypic civet strain of SARS-CoV, SZ16, was isolated from a palm civet but has not been successfully cultured in vitro. To propagate a chimeric recombinant SARS-CoV bearing an SZ16 spike (S) glycoprotein (icSZ16-S), we constructed cell lines expressing the civet ortholog (DBTcACE2) of the SARS-CoV receptor (hACE2). Zoonotic SARS-CoV was completely dependent on ACE2 for entry. Urbani grew with similar kinetics in both the DBT-cACE2 and the DBT-hACE2 cells, while icSZ16-S only grew in DBT-cACE2 cells.


“Background: The combined open surgical and endovascular a


“Background: The combined open surgical and endovascular approach for the treatment of aortic arch aneurysms has emerged as a safe treatment modality. This platform may have an especially important role in treating patients of old age and with a greater comorbid burden. We describe our institutional experience Idasanutlin purchase with the hybrid aortic arch

approach, with midterm outcomes.

Methods: From 2005 to the present, 685 patients have undergone thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR); 104 had a hybrid arch repair (open plus endovascular approach). Of these, 47 patients had treatment for an aortic arch aneurysm with or without a proximal ascending aortic aneurysm. All these patients had a median sternotomy approach for arch vessel debranching and MEK162 concentration antegrade with or without retrograde TEVAR stent grafting of the arch. Results from a prospectively maintained database are reported.

Results: Twenty-eight patients had type I repair, 8 patients had type II

repair, and 11 patients had type III arch hybrid repair. Those with type III repair were excluded from the analysis. Stent graft deployment rate was 100% after arch vessel debranching. Mean age was 71 +/- 8 years. Fourteen percent of cases involved a redo sternotomy. Average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 215 +/- 64 minutes, with a crossclamp time of 70 +/- 55 minutes and a circulatory arrest time of 19 +/- 10 minutes. The paraplegia rate was 5.5% (n = 2), with a stroke rate of 8% (n = 3). In-hospital mortality was 8% (n = 3). There were no postoperative endoleaks. The mean length of stay was 17.2 +/- 14 days. The median follow-up was 30 +/- 21 months. Freedom from all-cause mortality was 71%, 60%, and 48% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The aortic reoperation rate was 2.7% (n = 1). No patient has a type 1 or 3 endoleak at latest follow-up.

Conclusions: The hybrid approach to aortic arch

aneurysm involving a zone 0 stent graft landing can be safely adopted with good midterm results in a cohort of old patients with significant comorbidity. This procedure can be performed with no type 1 or 3 endoleaks and may represent a technical advancement in the field of aortic arch surgery. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013;145:S85-90)”
“Objectives: To examine whether the psychometric properties of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) at AMPK activator work scales could be replicated with post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients and to measure the criterion validity through its association with psychological distress. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 814 patients (739 men and 75 women) who had returned to work after their first MI and who were followed up by telephone at an average of 2.2 years after their baseline interview (1998-2000). The psychological demands scale of the Karasek Job Content Questionnaire was used to measure effort. Reward was measured with nine items from the original reward scale by Siegrist plus two proxy items.

The peptide eliciting a stronger response is called immunodominan

The peptide eliciting a stronger response is called immunodominant (ID), and those with smaller-magnitude responses are termed subdominant (SD). The relative importance of ID and SD determinants in protective immunity remains to be fully elucidated. We previously showed that multispecific memory CD8(+) T cells can protect susceptible mice from mousepox, an acute lethal viral disease. It remained unknown, however, whether CD8(+) T cells specific for single ID or SD peptides could

be protective. Here, we demonstrate that immunization with dendritic cells pulsed with ID and some but not all SD peptides induces memory CD8(+) T cells that are fully capable of protecting susceptible mice from mousepox. Additionally, while natural killer (NK) selleck inhibitor cells are essential for the natural resistance of nonimmune C57BL/6 (B6) to mousepox, we show that memory CD8(+) T cells of single specificity also protect B6 mice depleted of NK cells. This suggests it is feasible to produce effective antiviral CD8(+) T cell vaccines using single CD8(+) T cell determinants and that NK cells are no longer essential when memory CD8(+) T cells are present.”
“Background

In single-group studies, chromosomal rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) have been associated with marked clinical responses to crizotinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting ALK. Whether crizotinib is superior

to standard chemotherapy with respect to efficacy is unknown.

Methods

We conducted a phase 3, open-label trial comparing crizotinib with chemotherapy in Epacadostat datasheet 347 patients with locally advanced or metastatic Selleckchem LGX818 ALK-positive lung cancer who had received one prior platinum-based regimen. Patients were randomly assigned to receive oral treatment with crizotinib (250

mg) twice daily or intravenous chemotherapy with either pemetrexed (500 mg per square meter of body-surface area) or docetaxel (75 mg per square meter) every 3 weeks. Patients in the chemotherapy group who had disease progression were permitted to cross over to crizotinib as part of a separate study. The primary end point was progression-free survival.

Results

The median progression-free survival was 7.7 months in the crizotinib group and 3.0 months in the chemotherapy group (hazard ratio for progression or death with crizotinib, 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37 to 0.64; P<0.001). The response rates were 65% (95% CI, 58 to 72) with crizotinib, as compared with 20% (95% CI, 14 to 26) with chemotherapy (P<0.001). An interim analysis of overall survival showed no significant improvement with crizotinib as compared with chemotherapy (hazard ratio for death in the crizotinib group, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.54; P = 0.54). Common adverse events associated with crizotinib were visual disorder, gastrointestinal side effects, and elevated liver aminotransferase levels, whereas common adverse events with chemotherapy were fatigue, alopecia, and dyspnea.