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Lung Cancer (Auckland, N.Z.) 2015Pemetrexed, a multitargeting antifolate cytotoxic drug, plays a leading role in front-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung... (Review)
Review
Pemetrexed, a multitargeting antifolate cytotoxic drug, plays a leading role in front-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Following its approval as second-line monotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC, pemetrexed has established itself as the first-line regimen in combination with cisplatin, and its powerful antitumor effects and less cumulative toxicities were then taken advantage of in the JMEN and PARAMOUNT trials, respectively, to pioneer a new treatment strategy of switch and continuation maintenance monotherapy. These developments have brought about a marked paradigm shift, and made pemetrexed indispensable in the treatment for non-squamous NSCLC. So far, only three drugs have been approved for maintenance therapy; pemetrexed both by switch and continuation maintenance, erlotinib by switch maintenance, and bevacizumab by continuation maintenance. Compared with observation alone after defined cycles of the first-line chemotherapy, subsequent pemetrexed maintenance therapy has provided significantly longer survival and infrequent severe adverse events. The cost-effectiveness of pemetrexed maintenance therapy is controversial, as well as the other two maintenance drugs, bevacizumab and erlotinib. The latest attractive attention is a combination maintenance therapy. We may have to consider epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status for selection of a combination pattern. A combination maintenance therapy of pemetrexed plus bevacizumab is potential for patients with wild-type EGFR status, while a EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-containing combination is promising for patients with active EGFR mutation status. Pemetrexed will be a pivotal drug when a combination maintenance therapy is used in practice. For future maintenance therapy, we need to explore reliable predictive selection or exclusion markers that can predict who will really benefit from maintenance therapy.
PubMed: 28210147
DOI: 10.2147/LCTT.S73268 -
Cancer Diagnosis & Prognosis 2021Here, we investigated whether bortezomib as a maintenance therapy affected outcomes in transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
BACKGROUND/AIM
Here, we investigated whether bortezomib as a maintenance therapy affected outcomes in transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Following induction therapy with bortezomib, maintenance therapy with bortezomib (1.3 mg/m ) and dexamethasone (20 mg) was administered once or twice every 4 weeks until disease progression. The endpoints of this study were time to next treatment and overall survival.
RESULTS
Seventy-six newly diagnosed, transplant-ineligible patients were treated with a bortezomib-based regimen; 28 discontinued induction therapy, 27 did not receive maintenance therapy after induction therapy (the non-maintenance group), and 21 did (the maintenance group). In the three groups, the median times to the next required treatment were 3, 14, and 37 months, respectively. The 3-year overall survival rates were 55%, 69%, and 85%, respectively. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the non-maintenance and maintenance groups, except for poorer estimated glomerular filtration rates in the maintenance group.
CONCLUSION
Bortezomib maintenance therapy may be a useful option for transplant-ineligible patients with MM.
PubMed: 35403126
DOI: 10.21873/cdp.10006 -
Translational Journal of the American... 2022Few studies have focused on physical activity (PA) maintenance, particularly among minority populations; smartphone apps could provide valuable tools. This study aimed...
INTRODUCTION
Few studies have focused on physical activity (PA) maintenance, particularly among minority populations; smartphone apps could provide valuable tools. This study aimed to 1) assess and understand PA maintenance among Latinas who completed a PA intervention; and 2) evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of commercial smartphone apps as tools for PA maintenance.
METHODS
For this feasibility study, 27 Latinas who completed a PA intervention and increased their PA were randomly assigned to enhanced maintenance (i.e., taught to use commercial smartphone apps, N=14), or regular maintenance (i.e., no additional treatment, N=13). After 3-months, the feasibility and acceptability of using apps for PA maintenance was assessed via survey questions, analyzed using descriptive statistics. PA was reassessed via the 7-day PA Recall and analyzed using longitudinal mixed effects regression models. Qualitative data were collected via open-ended interview questions and analyzed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS
43% of enhanced maintenance participants reported using study apps at least "a little" and 21% using them "a lot." Although not statistically significant, enhanced maintenance participants reported a smaller drop in PA from post-intervention to post-maintenance, compared to regular maintenance participants. Several participants expressed approval of the apps, while others reported on factors that kept them from using the apps for PA maintenance.
CONCLUSION
Incorporating lessons learned from this study, larger randomized trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of using smartphone apps to support PA maintenance. The widespread use of apps could make them ideal tools to support PA maintenance after interventions in different settings.
PubMed: 35572066
DOI: 10.1249/tjx.0000000000000188 -
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology Jun 2014Minichromsome maintenance protein 10 (Mcm10) is an essential replication factor that is required for the activation of the Cdc45:Mcm2-7:GINS helicase. Mcm10's ability to... (Review)
Review
Minichromsome maintenance protein 10 (Mcm10) is an essential replication factor that is required for the activation of the Cdc45:Mcm2-7:GINS helicase. Mcm10's ability to bind both ds and ssDNA appears vital for this function. In addition, Mcm10 interacts with multiple players at the replication fork, including DNA polymerase-α and proliferating cell nuclear antigen with which it cooperates during DNA elongation. Mcm10 lacks enzymatic function, but instead provides the replication apparatus with an oligomeric scaffold that likely acts in the coordination of DNA unwinding and DNA synthesis. Not surprisingly, loss of Mcm10 engages checkpoint, DNA repair and SUMO-dependent rescue pathways that collectively counteract replication stress and chromosome breakage. Here, we review Mcm10's structure and function and explain how it contributes to the maintenance of genome integrity.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Conserved Sequence; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; Humans; Minichromosome Maintenance Proteins; Neoplasms; Protein Binding; Protein Multimerization
PubMed: 24662891
DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.03.017 -
Heliyon Sep 2023This study considers the case of unreliable equipment subjected to random failures that induce high maintenance and environmental costs. We consider situations where the...
This study considers the case of unreliable equipment subjected to random failures that induce high maintenance and environmental costs. We consider situations where the equipment is located in remote areas, which are difficult to access, and situations where there could be confinement linked to a pandemic, making it impossible to perform the replacement of the failed equipment. In such situations, the objective is to explore the possibility of providing a system with self-maintenance capabilities to a certain extent by adding redundant (stand-by) identical modules. Both the designs (with and without passive redundancy) are considered. A mathematical cost model is developed for each alternative to help decide whether to adopt redundancy and determine the optimal number of redundant modules, which minimises the total expected cost. The latter includes the costs related to the acquisition, maintenance, and recycling of failed modules. A numerical example is presented, and a sensitivity study is performed to investigate the effect of variations in relevant input parameters on the optimal design.
PubMed: 37810021
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20055 -
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Jan 2014Maintenance therapy has emerged as a novel therapeutic paradigm for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Maintenance therapy that aims to sustain a clinically... (Review)
Review
Maintenance therapy has emerged as a novel therapeutic paradigm for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Maintenance therapy that aims to sustain a clinically favorable state after first-line chemotherapy has two strategies. Switch maintenance therapy entails switching to a new and non-cross-resistant agent in an alternating or sequential manner, on completion of first-line chemotherapy. Continuous maintenance therapy keeps ongoing administration of a component of the current regimen after four to six cycles of chemotherapy, if there is a stable disease, or better response. Both maintenance therapies can be continued, until disease progression. The potential evidence regarding maintenance therapy includes providing the opportunity to receive additional treatment, through sustaining tumor shrinkage, and delayed emergence of tumor-related symptom. Thus far, debates over the parameters used to predict the effectiveness of maintenance therapy, financial burden, and uncertainty of improving the quality of life exist. Despite many debates, maintenance therapy, which is currently recommended, has been disclosed to be beneficial.
PubMed: 24523811
DOI: 10.4046/trd.2014.76.1.1 -
Cancers May 2015In the past few years many trials have evaluated the use of maintenance therapy in the treatment of NSCLC stage IV. Both switch as well as continuation maintenance show... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
In the past few years many trials have evaluated the use of maintenance therapy in the treatment of NSCLC stage IV. Both switch as well as continuation maintenance show an improved PFS and overall survival. HRQoL data was only partially published. The aim of this article is to review the published effects of maintenance therapy on HRQoL.
METHODS
Two PubMed searches were performed using the terms: "maintenance therapy and NSCLC" and "maintenance therapy and NSCLC and HRQoL". The published data was compared, analysed and evaluated.
RESULTS
272 articles were found dealing with maintenance therapy, and of these 85 articles were found regarding maintenance therapy and HRQoL in NSCLC. Maintenance therapy showed no negative impact on HRQoL but failed to show a real benefit. Some symptoms showed positive trends during maintenance therapy. HRQoL can be used to select patients for maintenance therapy.
CONCLUSIONS
Maintenance therapy is very safe, improves PFS and OS without impairing HRQoL. Although a positive impact on general QoL could not be demonstrated this is possibly due to the mode of evaluating HRQoL. Patient reported outcomes should be simplified and examined for a longer period of time.
PubMed: 26035509
DOI: 10.3390/cancers7020817 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2023Selecting the appropriate maintenance type is a challenging task that involves multiple criteria working together. This decision has a significant impact on the...
Selecting the appropriate maintenance type is a challenging task that involves multiple criteria working together. This decision has a significant impact on the organization and its overall market sustainability. The primary categorization of maintenance consists of two main types: corrective maintenance and preventive maintenance. All other classifications are encompassed within these two categories. For instance, preventive maintenance can be further classified as either predictive maintenance or periodic maintenance. Given the importance of this decision, this paper discusses the optimal maintenance type under different conditions. The scale of the business, the cost of machine failure, the effect of machine failure on the production schedule, the effect of machine failure on worker safety and the workplace environment, the availability of spare parts, the lifespan of the machine, and the manufacturing process are some of the factors that are covered in this paper. This paper primarily aims to present a comprehensive literature review concerning the strategic decision-making process for selecting the appropriate maintenance type under varying conditions. Additionally, the paper incorporates various models and visual aids within its content to facilitate and guide the decision-making procedure. Corrective maintenance is usually necessary in the case of small companies, significant impact on business or production plans due to failures, potential risks to public safety, ready availability of spare parts, and when production processes are not interdependent. If these parameters are not met, preventive maintenance can be a better option. Since these circumstances frequently do not occur simultaneously, it is imperative for the business to give them significant consideration.
PubMed: 37731044
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42751-5 -
International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2020Qualitative studies have identified haircare practices as important culturally specific barriers to physical activity (PA) among Black/African American (AA) women, but...
Qualitative studies have identified haircare practices as important culturally specific barriers to physical activity (PA) among Black/African American (AA) women, but quantitative investigations are lacking. Using the Study of Environment, Lifestyle and Fibroids data among 1558 Black/AA women, we investigated associations between hair product usage/hair maintenance behaviors and PA during childhood and adulthood. Participants reported childhood and current chemical relaxer and leave-in conditioner use. Self-reported PA included childhood recreational sports participation, leisure-time PA engagement during adulthood, and, at each life stage, minutes of and intensity of PA. Adjusting for socioeconomic and health characteristics, we used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each PA measure for more vs. less frequent hair product use/hair maintenance. Thirty-four percent reported ≥twice/year chemical relaxer use and 22% reported ≥once/week leave-in conditioner use at age 10 years, and neither were associated with PA at age 10 years. In adulthood, ≥twice/year chemical relaxer users (30%) were less likely (PR = 0.90 [95% CI: 0.79-1.02]) and ≥once/week leave-in conditioner users (24%) were more likely (PR = 1.09 [95% CI: 0.99-1.20]) to report intense PA compared to counterparts reporting rarely/never use. Hair product use/maintenance may influence PA among Black/AA women and impact cardiometabolic health disparities.
Topics: Adult; Black or African American; Child; Culture; Exercise; Female; Hair Preparations; Humans; Maintenance
PubMed: 33322020
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249254 -
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols Dec 2020Modular recirculating animal aquaculture systems incorporate UV sterilization and biological, mechanical, and activated carbon filtration, creating a nearly...
Modular recirculating animal aquaculture systems incorporate UV sterilization and biological, mechanical, and activated carbon filtration, creating a nearly self-contained stable housing environment for Nonetheless, minimal water exchange is necessary to mitigate accumulation of metabolic waste, and regular weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance is needed to ensure accurate and efficient operation. This protocol describes the methods for establishing a new recirculating system and the necessary maintenance, as well as water quality parameters, required for keeping .
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Housing, Animal; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Larva; Maintenance; Population Density; Temperature; Water; Xenopus
PubMed: 32404312
DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot106146