Artemisinin derivative-based combination therapy is expected to suppress the development of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance in Africa. We have performed an artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem; Novartis) follow-up clinical trial in Zanzibar, in which pfcrt K76T and pfmdr1 N86Y frequencies were determined before drug administration and in all recurrent parasites during a follow-up period of 42 days. A significant increase in pfmdr1 86N was observed after exposure to the drug. This points to 86N as a potential marker of lumefantrine resistance in vivo, while suggesting that Coartem is not robust enough to avoid selection of resistance-associated mutations in some malarial settings.

There continues to be large variation in margin policy and re-excision rates across units. Altering margin policies to follow either SSO-ASTRO or ABS guidelines would result in a modest reduction in the national re-excision rate. Most re-excisions are for involved margins rather than close margins.

Background/Objective SPIO is effective in sentinel node (SN) detection. No nuclear medicine department is needed, and no allergic reactions have occurred. This study aimed to compare retro-areolar and peri-tumoral SPIO injections regarding skin staining, detection rates and number of SNs. Methods Data on staining size, intensity and cosmetic outcome (0–5; 0 = no problem) were collected by telephone interviews with 258 women undergoing breast conservation. SN detection and the number of SNs were prospectively registered in 332 women. Results After retro-areolar and peri-tumoral injections, 67.3% and 37.8% ( p < 0.001) developed skin staining, with remaining staining in 46.2 vs. 9.4% after 36 months ( p < 0.001). Initial mean size was 16.3 vs. 6.8 cm ( p < 0.001) and after 36 months, 6.6 vs. 1.8 cm 2 ( p < 0.001). At 75.1% of 738 interviews, staining was reported paler. After retro-areolar injections, cosmetic outcome scored worse for 2 years. The mean (median) scores were 1.3(0) vs. 0.5(0) points, and 0.2(0) vs. 0.1(0) points, at 12 and 36 months, respectively. Overall detection rates were 98.3% and 97.4% ( p = 0.43) and the number of SNs 1.35 vs. 1.57 ( p = 0.02) after retro-areolar and peri-tumoral injections. Injection, regardless of type, 1–27 days before surgery increased detection rates with SPIO, 98.0% vs. 94.2% ( p = 0.06) ,and SN numbers, 1.56 vs. 1.27 ( p = 0.003). Conclusion SPIO is effective and facilitates planning for surgery. Peri-tumoral injection reduced staining with a similar detection rate. Staining was not considered a cosmetic problem among most women. Injecting SPIO 1–27 days before surgery increased the detection rate by 3.8% and increased the number of SNs by 0.3.