Investigation of population genetic structure and mating system in the ant Pheidole pallidula

The origin of eusociality in haplo-diploid organisms such as Hymenoptera has been mostly explained by kin selection. However, several studies have uncovered decreased relatedness values within colonies, resulting primarily from multiple queen matings (polyandry) and/or from the presence of more than one functional queen (polygyny). Here, we report on the use of microsatellite data for the investigation of sociogenetic parameters, such as relatedness, and levels of polygyny and polyandry, in the ant Pheidole pallidula. We demonstrate, through analysis of mother-offspring combinations and the use of direct sperm typing, that each queen is inseminated by a single male. The inbreeding coefficient within colonies and the levels of relatedness between the queens and their mate are not significantly different from zero, indicating that matings occur between unrelated individuals. Analyses of worker genotypes demonstrate that 38% of the colonies are polygynous with 2-4 functional queens, and suggest the existence of reproductive skew, i.e. unequal respective contribution of queens to reproduction. Finally, our analyses indicate that colonies are genetically differentiated and form a population exhibiting significant isolation-by-distance, suggesting that some colonies originate through budding.

Randomized, controlled trial investigating short-term health-related quality of life with doxorubicin and paclitaxel versus doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer Group, Investigational Drug Branch for Breast Cancer and the New Drug Development Group Study.

PURPOSE: To compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving the combination of doxorubicin and paclitaxel (AT) or doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) as first-line chemotherapy treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients (n = 275) with anthracycline-naive measurable metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to AT (doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) as an intravenous bolus plus paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) as a 3-hour infusion) or AC (doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks for a maximum of six cycles. Dose escalation of paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2)) and cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m(2)) was planned at cycle 2 to reach equivalent myelosuppression in the two groups. HRQOL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and the EORTC Breast Module at baseline and the start of cycles 2, 4, and 6, and 3 months after the last cycle. RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent of the patients (n = 219) completed a baseline measure. However, there were no statistically significant differences in HRQOL between the two treatment groups. In both groups, selected aspects of HRQOL were impaired over time, with increased fatigue, although some clinically significant improvements in emotional functioning were seen, as well as a reduction in pain over time. Overall, global quality of life was maintained in both treatment groups. CONCLUSION: This information is important when advising women patients of the expected HRQOL consequences of treatment regimens and should help clinicians and their patients make informed treatment decisions.

Prevention of recurrences in frequently relapsing herpes labialis with thymopentin a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study

The present randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter study included a population of 36 subjects with frequent recurrences (at least once a month) of herpes labialis. Most of the patients had failed to respond adequately to previous treatment with other therapeutic tools, including acyclovir. Either 50 mg of thymopentin or of placebo was administered 3 times a week, by the subcutaneous route, for 6 weeks. Subsequently, the patients were observed for nearly 6 months on the average. The results achieved with thymopentin for the individual parameters were significantly superior to those obtained with placebo; thus significant improvement was seen in patients on thymopentin in the duration of the longest symptomfree period (prolonged from 2.1 weeks to 20.9 weeks, p = 0.000), in the number of relapses (reduced from 1.6 to 0.4 episodes/month, p = 0.001), and in the total duration of herpes symptoms per month (shortened from 2.0 to 0.3 weeks, p = 0.000). Placebo treatment also resulted in considerable improvement (p < 0.05 or 0.01), but was significantly inferior to the improvement obtained with thymopentin. The longest symptomfree period in the placebo group was prolonged from 2.4 to 11.2 weeks. The number of relapses per month was reduced from 1.4 to 0.8, and the total duration of herpes symptoms per month from 2 to 0.9 weeks. The results of intergroup analyses, in which the observed parameters and the improvement achieved in either group were compared, significantly favored thymopentin treatment. The effect of thymopentin was in all but one parameters superior to that of placebo and highly significant (p < 0.01). © 1985 Humana Press Inc.

Safety and efficacy of drisapersen for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DEMAND II): an exploratory, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2 study.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by dystrophin deficiency and muscle deterioration and preferentially affects boys. Antisense-oligonucleotide-induced exon skipping allows synthesis of partially functional dystrophin. We investigated the efficacy and safety of drisapersen, a 2'-O-methyl-phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotide, given for 48 weeks.