Ibrutinib in combination with rituximab is highly effective in treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with steroid refractory and relapsed autoimmune cytopenias.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) are common complications of CLL. The optimal treatment of steroid refractory AIHA/PRCA is not well established. We conducted a multicenter study of ibrutinib and rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory to steroids AIHA/PRCA and underlying CLL. Protocol included induction (ibrutinib 420 mg/day and rituximab, 8 weekly and 4 monthly infusions) and maintenance phase with ibrutinib alone until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Fifty patients were recruited (44-warm AIHA, 2-cold AIHA, 4-PRCA). After the induction 34 patients (74%) have achieved complete response, 10 (21.7%) partial response. Median time to hemoglobin normalization was 85 days. With regards to CLL response 9 (19%) patients have achieved CR, 2 (4%) patients-stabilization and 39 (78%)-PR. The median follow-up was 37.56 months. In AIHA group 2 patients had a relapse. Among 4 patients with PRCA 1 patient did not respond, and 1 patient had a relapse after CR, 2 remained in CR. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (62%), infections (72%), gastrointestinal complications (54%). In conclusion ibrutinib in combination with rituximab is an active second-line treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory AIHA/PRCA and underlying CLL.

Can rubrics combat gender bias in faculty hiring?

Some bias persiste d, but rubric use should be encouraged.

New electroactive asymmetrical chalcones and therefrom derived 2-amino- / 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)pyrimidines, containing an N-[ω-(4-methoxyphenoxy)alkyl]carbazole fragment: synthesis, optical and electrochemical properties.

In this paper we present a synthetic approach to six new D-π-A-D conjugated chromophores containing the N-[ω-(4-methoxyphenoxy)alkyl]carbazole fragment. Such readily functionalizable heterocycle as carbazole was used as a main starting compound for their preparation. The investigation of the optical properties has shown that the positive solvatochromism is inherent to the chromophores containing an electron-withdrawing prop-2-en-1-one fragment, while the compounds containing a 2-aminopyrimidine moiety exhibit both positive and negative solvatochromism. The fluorescence quantum yields were experimentally determined for some of the synthesized chromophores; e.g., 1-(5-arylthiophen-2-yl)ethanones quantum yields were found to lie in an interval of 60-80%. Electrochemical oxidation of the synthesized chromophores has resulted in the formation of colored thin oligomeric films that became possible due to the presence of carbazole or pyrrole fragments with free electron-rich positions.