Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are a distinct group whose needs have been poorly addressed within health care systems. This imbalance is being addressed in some countries, and this growing specialty is now receiving the recognition it requires in order to develop further. This article discusses some of the psychosocial issues of AYAs and, with reference to the phrase of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, highlights the various rites of passage that young people experience. It also discusses how services and professionals can work alongside AYAs, enabling them to feel a part of the process by providing age-appropriate environment and expertise.

Hydrate films typically form at gas-water interfaces where the concentrations of guest and host molecules are the highest. Once formed, the films provide a significant mass transfer barrier to further hydrate formation. However, controversy exists about whether it is the transport through the crystal film of the guest or the host (water) molecule that controls further hydrate growth. In this study, methane hydrate films were formed at a gas-water interface, and the gas and water phases were then replaced by isotopic tracers. The concentration profiles of the tracers across the hydrate films were studied over time using confocal Raman spectroscopy in order to determine the relative mobility of guest and host molecules within hydrate film. The films were found to contain gas-filled pores, which provided pathways for gas migration. These pores annealed over time, increasing the mass transfer resistance. The results indicate that the host water molecules are the most mobile species in the hydrate phase, and that hydrate growth is controlled by the movement of water within the hydrate film.

Varenicline was significantly more efficacious for smoking cessation than placebo over a 12-week treatment period and a further 12-week non-treatment follow-up period in smokers from China, Singapore and Thailand. No significant side-effects were noted.

WISPs may play important but contrasting roles in breast cancer. WISP-1 seems to act as a tumor suppressor and WISP-2 as a factor that stimulates aggressiveness; WISP-3 has no definable beneficial or detrimental role.

Poor inclusion rates into clinical trials for teenagers and young adults (TYA; aged 13 -24 years) have been assumed but not systematically investigated in England. We analysed accrual rates ( Other possible influences, such as difficulties associated with the consent of TYA require further evaluation. Closer dialogue between those involved in planning and running trials for children and for adults is necessary to improve trial availability and recruitment. Further research is required to identify trends in trial availability and accrual for those tumours constituting the remaining 26% of TYA cancers.