Machine Learning Predicts Oxaliplatin Benefit in Early Colon Cancer.

PURPOSE: A combination of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) is the standard for adjuvant therapy of resected early-stage colon cancer (CC). Oxaliplatin leads to lasting and disabling neurotoxicity. Reserving the regimen for patients who benefit from oxaliplatin would maximize efficacy and minimize unnecessary adverse side effects. METHODS: We trained a new machine learning model, referred to as the colon oxaliplatin signature (COLOXIS) model, for predicting response to oxaliplatin-containing regimens. We examined whether COLOXIS was predictive of oxaliplatin benefits in the CC adjuvant setting among 1,065 patients treated with 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin (FULV; n = 421) or FULV + oxaliplatin (FOLFOX; n = 644) from NSABP C-07 and C-08 phase III trials. The COLOXIS model dichotomizes patients into COLOXIS+ (oxaliplatin responder) and COLOXIS- (nonresponder) groups. Eight-year recurrence-free survival was used to evaluate oxaliplatin benefits within each of the groups, and the predictive value of the COLOXIS model was assessed using the P value associated with the interaction term (int P) between the model prediction and the treatment effect. RESULTS: Among 1,065 patients, 526 were predicted as COLOXIS+ and 539 as COLOXIS-. The COLOXIS+ prediction was associated with prognosis for FULV-treated patients (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52 [95% CI, 1.07 to 2.15]; P = .017). The model was predictive of oxaliplatin benefits: COLOXIS+ patients benefited from oxaliplatin (HR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.89]; P = .0065; int P = .03), but COLOXIS- patients did not (COLOXIS- HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.52]; P = .65). CONCLUSION: The COLOXIS model is predictive of oxaliplatin benefits in the CC adjuvant setting. The results provide evidence supporting a change in CC adjuvant therapy: reserve oxaliplatin only for COLOXIS+ patients, but further investigation is warranted.

Remdesivir for patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia requiring high oxygen support.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options for patients with critical Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are limited. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with remdesivir therapy in patients with COVID-19 who require non-invasive (NIV) ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). METHODS: Data were retrospectively extracted for adults with COVID-19 confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) between August 1, 2020 and January 28, 2021 who received ≥ 48 hours of remdesivir therapy while on NIV or IMV. Clinical improvement was defined as two-category improvement on an eight-point ordinal severity scale. RESULTS: A total of 133 individuals were included, of which 114 (85.7%) were on NIV and 19 (14.3%) were on IMV at the time of remdesivir initiation. The majority of the patients were males (62.4%), and the median age was 56 years. All the patients received concomitant dexamethasone therapy. Remdesivir treatment was commenced after a median of 7 days from onset of symptoms and was continued for a median of 5 days. Clinical improvement within 28 days was achieved in 101 patients (75.9%); among which, 78.1% and 63.2% were subjected to baseline NIV and IMV, respectively. Among the 11 (8.3%) patients who died of any cause by day 28, 9 (7.9%) and 2 (10.5%) were subjected to baseline NIV and IMV, respectively. The most frequent adverse events were sinus bradycardia (21, 13.1%) and alanine transaminase increase (18, 11.3%). Almost all adverse events were classified as Grades 1-3. CONCLUSION: The use of remdesivir in combination with systemic corticosteroids is associated with high recovery rates and low all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who require NIV or IMV. The results need confirmation from clinical trials of appropriate design and size.

Morphological Representation of C1q in the Aging Central Nervous System.

INTRODUCTION: The complement protein C1q is essential for the innate immune system and neurophysiological and neuropathological processes. To gain more insight into these functions in the CNS, a comprehensive understanding of the morphological representation, especially of its cellular and subcellular target structures, is of great importance. METHODS: For a free-floating preparation, the brains of wild-type and ArcAß mice were cut into 100 µm slices. Living slices were incubated in Ringer's solution and then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) and stained with different primary and secondary antibodies or methoxy-X04. RESULTS: C1q was abundant in the entire brain. Interestingly, C1q accumulated around cell nuclei, with a perineuronal localization around neuronal somata and a paraneuronal accumulation around non-neuronal cells, e. g., microglia. Moreover, dendritic-like, linear, branched C1q signals were observed in the area between the dentate gyrus and the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Complementary staining revealed an overlap with ß-amyloid accumulation reflected by the deposition of C1q within plaques and modified basal C1q levels in the brains of transgenic ArcAß animals. DISCUSSION: The applied free-floating approach is suitable for C1q immunofluorescence imaging. The consistent colocalization of the complement protein C1q with ß-amyloid plaques may reflect an activated immune response, whereas the accumulation of C1q around neuronal structures such as somata and dendrites is still a matter of debate. Intriguingly, C1q surrounds those structures in older brains of both wild-type and ArcAß mice. Our results also indicate an involvement of C1q in neurophysiological and neurodegenerative processes.

Stability-indicating RP-HPLC assay of three novel oral anticoagulants binary mixtures with rosuvastatin calcium: Application to pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma.

The binary mixtures of the novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs); Apixaban (APX), Edoxaban tosylate (EDX) and Rivaroxaban (RIV) with the lipid lowering statin; Rosuvastatin calcium were analyzed using a validated HPLC-DAD method. This method was suitable for the quantitative assay of the targeted mixtures in tablets and human plasma. The analysis in dosage form was a stability indicating one where the drugs were separated from possible degradation products arising from applying different stress conditions. For analysis in human plasma, EDX was used as internal standard in APX/ROS and RIV/ROS mixtures, while APX was used as internal standard in EDX/ROS mixture and the method was validated according to FDA regulation for analysis in biological fluids. A ZORBAX Eclipse column C18 (4.6 × 150 mm × 5 µm) was used as stationary phase with a gradient eluting mobile phase composed of acidified water and acetonitrile. The method selectivity was demonstrated by its ability to simultaneously analyze the drugs in presence of possible forced degradation products and dosage form excipients and in presence of plasma interferences (analysis in biological fluid) at a single wavelength (291 nm) with the use of the internal standard. The simplicity of the method emphasizes its capability to analyze the drugs in pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma. This is very important in regular clinical monitoring of the drugs plasma concentrations for cardiovascular patients medicated with either of these combinations, as prophylaxis from stroke, in order to prevent severe bleeding and to achieve optimum dose adjustment.

Synoptic Overview of Exotic Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoid Clade, Fabaceae) in Egypt.

For the first time, an updated checklist of Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia species in Egypt is provided, focusing on the exotic species. Taking into consideration the retypification of genus Acacia ratified at the Melbourne International Botanical Congress (IBC, 2011), a process of reclassification has taken place worldwide in recent years. The review of Acacia and its segregates in Egypt became necessary in light of the available information cited in classical works during the last century. In Egypt, various taxa formerly placed in Acacia s.l., have been transferred to Acacia s.s., Acaciella, Senegalia, Parasenegalia and Vachellia. The present study is a contribution towards clarifying the nomenclatural status of all recorded species of Acacia and its segregate genera. This study recorded 144 taxa (125 species and 19 infraspecific taxa). Only 14 taxa (four species and 10 infraspecific taxa) are indigenous to Egypt (included now under Senegalia and Vachellia). The other 130 taxa had been introduced to Egypt during the last century. Out of the 130 taxa, 79 taxa have been recorded in literature. The focus of this study is the remaining 51 exotic taxa that have been traced as living species in Egyptian gardens or as herbarium specimens in Egyptian herbaria. The studied exotic taxa are accommodated under Acacia s.s. (24 taxa), Senegalia (14 taxa) and Vachellia (13 taxa). Identification keys for the studied genera, generic groups and species have been provided using different taxonomic criteria. For each taxon, the validated name with the first citation followed by relevant Egyptian citations, typification, synonyms, distinctive features, origin, ecology (when available), utilisation and selected specimens are provided. The study revealed the presence of 22 newly recorded taxa in Egypt. Additionally, a list of excluded, unvalidated and unresolved names is given.

Neratinib-Plus-Cetuximab in Quadruple-WT (KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA) Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Resistant to Cetuximab or Panitumumab: NSABP FC-7, A Phase Ib Study.

PURPOSE: In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), HER2 (ERBB2) gene amplification is implicated in anti-EGFR therapy resistance. We sought to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) and efficacy of neratinib, a pan-ERBB kinase inhibitor, combined with cetuximab, in patients with progressive disease (PD) on anti-EGFR treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with quadruple-wild-type, refractory mCRC enrolled in this 3+3 phase Ib study. Standard dosage cetuximab was administered with neratinib at 120 mg, 160 mg, 200 mg, and 240 mg/day orally in 28-day cycles. Samples were collected for molecular and pharmacokinetic studies. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were evaluable for dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). 240 mg was determined to be the RP2D wherein a single DLT occurred (1/7 patients). Treatment-related DLTs were not seen at lower doses. Best response was stable disease (SD) in 7 of 16 (44%) patients. HER2 amplification (chromogenic in situ IHC) was detected in 2 of 21 (9.5%) treatment-naïve tumors and 4 of 16 (25%) biopsies upon trial enrollment (post-anti-EGFR treatment and progression). Compared with matched enrollment biopsies, 6 of 8 (75%) blood samples showed concordance for HER2 CNV in circulating cell-free DNA. Five SD patients had HER2 amplification in either treatment-naïve or enrollment biopsies. Examination of gene-expression, total protein, and protein phosphorylation levels showed relative upregulation of ≥2 members of the HER-family receptors or ligands upon enrollment versus matched treatment-naïve samples. CONCLUSIONS: The RP2D of neratinib in this combination was 240 mg/day, which was well tolerated with low incidence of G3 AEs. There were no objective responses; SD was seen at all neratinib doses. HER2 amplification, detectable in both tissue and blood, was more frequent post-anti-EGFR therapy.

Multiplexed imaging and automated signal quantification in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues by ChipCytometry.

Deciphering the spatial composition of cells in tissues is essential for detailed understanding of biological processes in health and disease. Recent technological advances enabled the assessment of the enormous complexity of tissue-derived parameters by highly multiplexed tissue imaging (HMTI), but elaborate machinery and data analyses are required. This severely limits broad applicability of HMTI. Here we demonstrate for the first time the application of ChipCytometry technology, which has unique features for widespread use, on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, the most commonly used storage technique of clinically relevant patient specimens worldwide. The excellent staining quality permits workflows for automated quantification of signal intensities, which we further optimized to compensate signal spillover from neighboring cells. In combination with the high number of validated markers, the reported platform can be used from unbiased analyses of tissue composition to detection of phenotypically complex rare cells, and can be easily implemented in both routine research and clinical pathology.

Validation of the NSABP/NRG Oncology 8-Gene Trastuzumab-benefit Signature in Alliance/NCCTG N9831.

Our objective was to validate the NSABP 8-gene trastuzumab-benefit signature, developed and initially validated in NRG Oncology/NSABP B-31 in Alliance/NCCTG N9831. The B-31 and N9831 trials demonstrated the benefit of adding trastuzumab to chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting for HER2+ breast cancer patients. NSABP investigators utilized gene expression profiles of N9831 patients (N = 892) to blindly assign patients to large-, moderate-, or no-trastuzumab benefit groups and then NCCTG investigators assessed the degree of trastuzumab benefit using Cox models adjusted for age, nodes, estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status, tumor size, and grade. Hazard ratios and 2-sided P values for recurrence-free survival of the predicted large- (n = 387), moderate- (n = 401), and no-benefit (n = 104) groups, based on the 8-gene signature were 0.47 (95% CI = 0.31 to 0.73, P < .001), 0.60 (95% CI = 0.39 to 0.92, P = .02), and 1.54 (95% CI = 0.59 to 4.02, P = .38), respectively (P interaction  = .02), providing validation of the 8-gene signature in an independent study.

Integrin αvß3-dependent thyroid hormone effects on tumour proliferation and vascularisation.

Thyroid hormones are emerging as critical regulators of tumour growth and progression. To assess the contribution of thyroid hormone signalling via integrin αvß3, expressed on many tumour cells, endothelial cells, and stromal cells, to tumour growth, we compared the effects of thyroid hormones vs tetrac, a specific inhibitor of thyroid hormone action at integrin αvß3, in two murine xenograft tumour models with and without integrin αvß3 expression. Integrin αvß3-positive human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells SW1736 and integrin αvß3-negative human hepatocellular carcinoma cells HuH7 were injected into the flanks of nude mice. Tumour growth was monitored in euthyroid, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and euthyroid tetrac-treated mice. In SW1736 xenografts, hyperthyroidism led to a significantly increased tumour growth resulting in a decreased survival compared to euthyroid mice, while tumour growth was significantly reduced and, hence, survival prolonged in hypothyroid and tetrac-treated mice. Both proliferation and vascularisation, as determined by Ki67 and CD31 immunofluorescence staining, respectively, were significantly increased in tumours from hyperthyroid mice as compared to hypothyroid and tetrac-treated mice. No differences in tumour growth, survival, or Ki67 staining were observed between the different groups in integrin αvß3-negative HuH7 xenografts. Vascularisation, however, was significantly decreased in hypothyroid and tetrac-treated mice compared to euthyroid and hyperthyroid mice. Apoptosis was not affected in either tumour model, nor were cell proliferation or apoptosis in vitro. Tumour growth regulation by thyroid hormones in αvß3-positive tumours has important implications for cancer patients, especially those with thyroid dysfunctions and thyroid cancer patients treated with thyrotropin-suppressive L-thyroxine doses.

Report on computational assessment of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes from the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group.

Assessment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is increasingly recognized as an integral part of the prognostic workflow in triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2-positive breast cancer, as well as many other solid tumors. This recognition has come about thanks to standardized visual reporting guidelines, which helped to reduce inter-reader variability. Now, there are ripe opportunities to employ computational methods that extract spatio-morphologic predictive features, enabling computer-aided diagnostics. We detail the benefits of computational TILs assessment, the readiness of TILs scoring for computational assessment, and outline considerations for overcoming key barriers to clinical translation in this arena. Specifically, we discuss: 1. ensuring computational workflows closely capture visual guidelines and standards; 2. challenges and thoughts standards for assessment of algorithms including training, preanalytical, analytical, and clinical validation; 3. perspectives on how to realize the potential of machine learning models and to overcome the perceptual and practical limits of visual scoring.

Pitfalls in assessing stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) in breast cancer.

Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) are important prognostic and predictive biomarkers in triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2-positive breast cancer. Incorporating sTILs into clinical practice necessitates reproducible assessment. Previously developed standardized scoring guidelines have been widely embraced by the clinical and research communities. We evaluated sources of variability in sTIL assessment by pathologists in three previous sTIL ring studies. We identify common challenges and evaluate impact of discrepancies on outcome estimates in early TNBC using a newly-developed prognostic tool. Discordant sTIL assessment is driven by heterogeneity in lymphocyte distribution. Additional factors include: technical slide-related issues; scoring outside the tumor boundary; tumors with minimal assessable stroma; including lymphocytes associated with other structures; and including other inflammatory cells. Small variations in sTIL assessment modestly alter risk estimation in early TNBC but have the potential to affect treatment selection if cutpoints are employed. Scoring and averaging multiple areas, as well as use of reference images, improve consistency of sTIL evaluation. Moreover, to assist in avoiding the pitfalls identified in this analysis, we developed an educational resource available at www.tilsinbreastcancer.org/pitfalls.

Correction to: NSABP FB-7: a phase II randomized neoadjuvant trial with paclitaxel + trastuzumab and/or neratinib followed by chemotherapy and postoperative trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer.

After the publication of this work [1] the authors have reported that in Table 3 The letter "T" in columns 5 and 7 should not be there.

NSABP FB-7: a phase II randomized neoadjuvant trial with paclitaxel + trastuzumab and/or neratinib followed by chemotherapy and postoperative trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of NSABP FB-7 was to determine the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in locally advanced HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant trastuzumab or neratinib or the combination and weekly paclitaxel followed by standard doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide. The secondary aims include biomarker analyses. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: pCR was tested for association with treatment, gene expression, and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the Fc fragment of the IgG receptor IIIa-158V/F (FCGR3A). Pre-treatment biopsies and residual tumors were also compared to identify molecular changes. RESULTS: The numerical pCR rate in the trastuzumab plus neratinib arm (50% [95%CI 34-66%]) was greater than that for single-targeted therapies with trastuzumab (38% [95%CI 24-54]) or neratinib (33% [95%CI 20-50]) in the overall cohort but was not statistically significant. Hormone receptor-negative (HR-) tumors had a higher pCR rate than HR+ tumors in all three treatment arms, with the highest pCR rate in the combination arm. Diarrhea was the most frequent adverse event and occurred in virtually all patients who received neratinib-based therapy. Grade 3 diarrhea was reported in 31% of patients; there were no grade 4 events. Our 8-gene signature, previously validated for trastuzumab benefit in two different clinical trials in the adjuvant setting, was correlated with pCR across all arms of NSABP FB-7. Specifically, patients predicted to receive no trastuzumab benefit had a significantly lower pCR rate than did patients predicted to receive the most benefit (P = 0.03). FCGR genotyping showed that patients who were homozygous for the Fc low-binding phenylalanine (F) allele for FCGR3A-158V/F were less likely to achieve pCR. CONCLUSIONS: Combining trastuzumab plus neratinib with paclitaxel increased the absolute pCR rate in the overall cohort and in HR- patients. The 8-gene signature, which is validated for predicting trastuzumab benefit in the adjuvant setting, was associated with pCR in the neoadjuvant setting, but remains to be validated as a predictive marker in a larger neoadjuvant clinical trial. HR status, and the FCGR3A-158V/F genotype, also warrant further investigation to identify HER2+ patients who may benefit from additional anti-HER2 therapies beyond trastuzumab. All of these markers will require further validation in the neoadjuvant setting. TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01008150. Retrospectively registered on October 5, 2010.

CARM1 regulates senescence during airway epithelial cell injury in COPD pathogenesis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-threatening lung disease. Although cigarette smoke was considered the main cause of development, the heterogeneous nature of the disease leaves it unclear whether other factors contribute to the predisposition or impaired regeneration response observed. Recently, epigenetic modification has emerged to be a key player in the pathogenesis of COPD. The addition of methyl groups to arginine residues in both histone and nonhistone proteins by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) is an important posttranslational epigenetic modification event regulating cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and senescence. Here, we hypothesize that coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase-1 (CARM1) regulates airway epithelial cell injury in COPD pathogenesis by controlling cellular senescence. Using the naphthalene (NA)-induced mouse model of airway epithelial damage, we demonstrate that loss of CC10-positive club cells is accompanied by a reduction in CARM1-expressing cells of the airway epithelium. Furthermore, Carm1 haploinsuffficent mice showed perturbed club cell regeneration following NA treatment. In addition, CARM1 reduction led to decreased numbers of antisenescent sirtuin 1-expressing cells accompanied by higher p21, p16, and ß-galactosidase-positive senescent cells in the mouse airway following NA treatment. Importantly, CARM1-silenced human bronchial epithelial cells showed impaired wound healing and higher ß-galactosidase activity. These results demonstrate that CARM1 contributes to airway repair and regeneration by regulating airway epithelial cell senescence.

Stromal Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes in NRG Oncology/NSABP B-31 Adjuvant Trial for Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

We retrospectively assessed association of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) with clinical outcomes and molecular variables reportedly predictive of trastuzumab-benefit in National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-31 (N = 2130). sTILs were assessed in 1581 eligible B-31 cases utilizing all available hematoxylin and eosin slides. Mean concordance between main reviewer and six other pathologists was 90.8% in 100 cases. Cox regressions were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs). In chemotherapy and trastuzumab added to chemotherapy arms, increases in sTILs, as a semicontinuous variable (combined arms HR = 0.42, 95% confidence interval = 0.27 to 0.64, two-sided P < .001) or as lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer with more than 50% sTILs (combined arms HR = 0.65, 95% confidence interval = 0.49 to 0.86, two-sided P = .003) were statistically significantly associated with improved disease-free survival. There was no association of sTILs with trastuzumab benefit. However, higher sTILs were statistically significantly associated with higher trastuzumab benefit groups by 8-gene prediction model (two-sided P < .001). Neither PIK3CA mutations nor Fc-gamma-receptor polymorphisms were associated with sTILs. sTILs may have utility as a prognostic biomarker identifying HER2-positive early breast cancer at low recurrence risk.

Molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer in pre-clinical models show differential response to targeted therapies: Treatment implications beyond KRAS mutations.

Molecular subtypes of colorectal tumors are associated with prognosis and prediction for treatment benefit from chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to determine the association of colorectal (CRC) molecular subtypes with response to targeted therapies in pre-clinical models and 2) to identify treatments for CRC stem-like subtype because these tumors are associated with a very poor patient prognosis. Eleven CRC cell lines were classified into molecular subtypes and tested for their response to pan-ERBB, MEK, and ERK inhibitors as single agents and in combination. All six inflammatory or TA cell lines were exquisitely sensitive to the combination of MEK and neratinib whereas all five stem-like cell lines were resistant. Growth inhibition in sensitive cell lines was greater with the combination than with either drug alone even in cell lines with KRAS mutations. The combination inhibited pERK in inflammatory cell lines but not in four out of five stem-like cell lines. MEK162 plus neratinib were synergistic in cell culture and xenograft models in inflammatory cell lines. The ERK inhibitor, SCH772984, down-regulated pERK, decreased cell viability, and was synergistic with neratinib in both inflammatory and stem-like subtypes. These results suggest that inhibition of pERK is a critical node in decreasing cell viability of stem-like CRC tumors. Our results also suggest that CRC molecular subtypes may yield predictive information and may help to identify patients who may respond to targeted inhibitors.

Chemometrics-assisted spectrophotometric green method for correcting interferences in biowaiver studies: Application to assay and dissolution profiling study of donepezil hydrochloride tablets.

A green, simple and cost effective chemometric UV-Vis spectrophotometric method has been developed and validated for correcting interferences that arise during conducting biowaiver studies. Chemometric manipulation has been done for enhancing the results of direct absorbance, resulting from very low concentrations (high incidence of background noise interference) of earlier points in the dissolution timing in case of dissolution profile using first and second derivative (D1 & D2) methods and their corresponding Fourier function convoluted methods (D1/FF& D2/FF). The method applied for biowaiver study of Donepezil Hydrochloride (DH) as a representative model was done by comparing two different dosage forms containing 5mg DH per tablet as an application of a developed chemometric method for correcting interferences as well as for the assay and dissolution testing in its tablet dosage form. The results showed that first derivative technique can be used for enhancement of the data in case of low concentration range of DH (1-8µgmL-1) in the three different pH dissolution media which were used to estimate the low drug concentrations dissolved at the early points in the biowaiver study. Furthermore, the results showed similarity in phosphate buffer pH6.8 and dissimilarity in the other 2pH media. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines and USP monograph for both assays (HCl of pH1.2) and dissolution study in 3pH media (HCl of pH1.2, acetate buffer of pH4.5 and phosphate buffer of pH6.8). Finally, the assessment of the method greenness was done using two different assessment techniques: National Environmental Method Index label and Eco scale methods. Both techniques ascertained the greenness of the proposed method.

Green gas chromatographic stability-indicating method for the determination of Lacosamide in tablets. Application to in-vivo human urine profiling.

A direct, eco-friendly, stability-indicating GC method was developed for the determination of Lacosamide (LCM) in tablet dosage forms in presence of its degradation products as well as in human urine in presence of the co-administered drug Zonisamide (ZON). The assay method in tablets was validated according to the ICH guidelines, while the method for determination of LCM in urine was validated according to FDA; Bioanalytical Method Validation guidance. Linear response (r = 0.9998) was observed over the range of 20-280 µg/mL of LCM, with detection and quantitation limits of 5.871 and 19.57 µg/mL, respectively for the tablet assay method. While (r = 0.9999) was observed over the range of 0.5-20 µg/mL of LCM, with detection and quantitation limits of 67 and 233 ng mL-1, respectively for the urine analysis method. Under various stress conditions, the investigation of LCM forced degradation behaviour was carried out. Furthermore, monitoring of the drug in urine followed by construction of its urine profile was done after the administration of 50 mg tablet of LCM to three healthy volunteers so as to prove the ability of the method to be applied in assaying LCM in human urine. The method showed also successful separation of LCM and the co-administered drug ZON in urine. Finally, the greenness of the method was assessed using National Environmental Methods Index label and Eco scale methods.

Characterization of Five Podoviridae Phages Infecting Citrobacter freundii.

Citrobacter freundii causes opportunistic infections in humans and animals, which are becoming difficult to treat due to increased antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to explore phages as potential antimicrobial agents against this opportunistic pathogen. We isolated and characterized five new virulent phages, SH1, SH2, SH3, SH4, and SH5 from sewage samples in Tunisia. Morphological and genomic analyses revealed that the five C. freundii phages belong to the Caudovirales order, Podoviridae family, and Autographivirinae subfamily. Their linear double-stranded DNA genomes range from 39,158 to 39,832 bp and are terminally redundant with direct repeats between 183 and 242 bp. The five genomes share the same organization as coliphage T7. Based on genomic comparisons and on the phylogeny of the DNA polymerases, we assigned the five phages to the T7virus genus but separated them into two different groups. Phages SH1 and SH2 are very similar to previously characterized phages phiYeO3-12 and phiSG-JL2, infecting, respectively, Yersinia enterocolitica and Salmonella enterica, as well as sharing more than 80% identity with most genes of coliphage T7. Phages SH3, SH4, and SH5 are very similar to phages K1F and Dev2, infecting, respectively, Escherichia coli and Cronobacter turicensis. Several structural proteins of phages SH1, SH3, and SH4 were detected by mass spectrometry. The five phages were also stable from pH 5 to 10. No genes coding for known virulence factors or integrases were found, suggesting that the five isolated phages could be good candidates for therapeutic applications to prevent or treat C. freundii infections. In addition, this study increases our knowledge about the evolutionary relationships within the T7virus genus.