Following publication of the manuscript, the authors identified an inadvertent error in the summary. The analysis exploring the presence of activating mutations in JAK1 and/or STAT3 was conducted in a total of 155 ALCLs, of which 88 were systemic ALK À ALCLs. The ''155'' in the sentence ''We identified activating mutations of JAK1 and/or STAT3 genes in $20% of 155 ALK À ALCLs and demonstrated that 38% of systemic ALK À ALCLs displayed double lesions'' therefore should be ''88'' instead. The correct sentence should read as follows: ''We identified activating mutations of JAK1 and/or STAT3 genes in $20% of 88 ALK À ALCLs and demonstrated that 38% of systemic ALK À ALCLs displayed double lesions.'' The error has been corrected in the online version of the article.

BackgroundYouth smoking prevention should be a public health priority. It is not only vital to prevent youth from smoking but also to prevent non-smoking youth from becoming susceptible to smoking. Past research has examined factors associated with youth's susceptibility to become a future smoker, but research has yet to examine tobacco retailer density and susceptibility to smoking among never smokers. The objectives of this study are to examine how tobacco retailer density surrounding schools and social smoking influences are associated with smoking susceptibility among youth of never smokers, and occasional and daily smoking among youth of current smokers.MethodsData were collected in 2005-2006 from grade 9 to 12 students attending 76 secondary schools in Ontario, Canada, as part of the SHAPES-On study. A series of multi-level logistic regression analyses were performed to understand how student- and school-level factors are associated with three smoking behaviour outcomes: smoking susceptibility among never smokers, occasional smoking, and daily smoking.ResultsThe number of tobacco retailers surrounding a school was found to be associated with the likelihood of a never smoker being susceptible to future smoking (OR 1.03, 95CI% 1.01, 1.05). We also identified that being surrounded by smoking social influences, specifically family and close friends, can substantially increase the likelihood that never smokers are at risk for future smoking or that youth are already occasional or daily smokers.ConclusionsWe identified that the number of tobacco retailers surrounding a school was associated with an increased odds of being susceptible to future smoking among male never smokers. Smoking social models surrounding youth also appears to have an important impact on their smoking behaviour regardless of their smoking status. It is important for youth smoking prevention programs to begin early, interrupt youths' susceptibility to future smoking, and focus on subgroups that are at higher risk of smoking. The government should consider the impact of tobacco retailer density on youth smoking behaviour, and be cautious when granting licenses for establishments to sell tobacco products.

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There are at least two interleukin 2 (IL-2) binding peptides: one is the Mr 55,000 peptide (p55) reactive with the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody, and the other is a Mr 75,000 non-Tac IL-2 binding peptide (p75). Independently existing Tac or p75 peptides represent low-affinity IL-2 receptors, whereas high-affinity IL-2 receptors are expressed when both peptides are present and associated in a receptor complex. It has long been known that normal large granular lymphocytes (LGL) or leukemic cells from the patients with abnormal expansions of LGL can be activated by IL-2 not only to more-potent natural killer cells but also to effectors of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity, although they do not express the Tac peptide. In the present study, using crosslinking methodology, we found that normal LGL and leukemic LGL from all individuals tested expressed the p75 IL-2 binding peptide but did not express the Tac peptide. These LGL leukemia cells made proliferative responses to IL-2 but required a much higher concentration than that required for the proliferation of normal phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T lymphoblasts that express high-affinity receptors. Furthermore, the addition of IL-2 to Tac-negative LGL leukemic cells augmented transcription of the Tac gene and induced the Tac peptide. Neither the IL-2-induced proliferation nor the upregulation of Tac gene expression was inhibited by the addition of anti-Tac. These results strongly suggest that the p75 peptide is responsible for IL-2-induced activation of LGL and that the p75 peptide alone can mediate an IL-2 signal. Thus, the p75 peptide may play an important role in the IL-2-mediated immune response not only by participating with the Tac peptide in the formation of the high-affinity receptor complex on T cells but also by contributing to the initial triggering of LGL activation so that these cells become efficient natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cells.

Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of perfluorocarbon liquid as a short term postoperative tamponade in patients with retinal detachment from giant retinal tears. Method: A retrospective consecutive case series of patients with retinal detachment from giant retinal tears who underwent vitrectomy using perfluorocarbon liquid as a short term postoperative internal tamponade. The perfluorocarbon liquid was removed 5-14 days (mean 7.5 days) later and replaced by gas or silicone oil. Scleral buckling was performed in some cases with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The crystalline lens was removed if there was interference with the surgical view or if it was subluxated. The success rate of retinal reattachment, visual outcome, and postoperative complications were assessed. Results: A total of 62 eyes of 61 patients with a follow up of 8-69 months (mean 24.5 months) were included. All retinas were attached intraoperatively. 14 eyes (22.6%) developed re-detachment and additional operations were performed in 13 eyes. At final visit, 58 eyes (93.5%) had retinas that remained attached with visual acuity 6/12 or better in 27 eyes (46.5%). The visual acuity improved in 34 eyes (54.8%) with 28 eyes (45.2%) improving at least two Snellen lines, it was unchanged in 20 eyes (32.3%), and was worse in eight eyes (12.9%). Three patients developed glaucoma that was controlled medically. There was no retained perfluorocarbon liquid in any eyes. Conclusion: Perfluorocarbon liquid appears safe and effective to use as a short term postoperative tamponade in management of retinal detachment from giant retinal tears.

Objective  To relate the predictive value of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, histological grade and intraductal carcinoma (IDC‐P, a possible marker of poor prognosis) to pathological stage and subsequent clinical outcome, and thus derive an improved predictive model to aid the decision to initiate potentially curative therapy in localized prostate cancer. Materials and methods  Fifty‐nine radical prostatectomy specimens were histologically graded, allocated a pathological stage and the tumour volume determined by image analysis. Pre‐operative (needle biopsy) tumour grade, the presence or absence of IDC‐P, and serum PSA levels were correlated with the pathological stage. This was used to define the sequence and values that would be incorporated into a predictive model for pathological stage and clinical outcome. Results  There were close correlations between cancer volume and tumour grade (P=0.004) and between cancer volume and serum PSA level (P=0.003). However, in tumours with IDC‐P, serum PSA level did not correlate with tumour volume of IDC‐P (P>0.9). IDC‐P was an independent variable that significantly improved the prediction of pathological stage and tumour volume, and furthermore, was closely related to (r=0.53, P=0.001) and accurately predicted treatment failure. Conclusions  The model which best predicted pathological stage and clinical outcome involved first identifying those cancers with IDC‐P as having the poorest outcome. Cancers without IDC‐P were then separated into low‐ and high‐risk groups on the basis of serum PSA levels below and above 10 ng/mL, and those in the high‐risk group further stratified using Gleason grading. Furthermore, the use of a sequential consideration of pre‐operative variables including IDC‐P allowed cases to be grouped which, after radical surgery, closely correlated with clinical outcome.

Aims: To assess whether statin use is associated with reduced mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods: Hospitalisation, drug dispensing, and mortality records were linked for New Zealanders aged 50-80 years discharged from hospital with a first admission with COPD in 2006. Patients were classified according to whether or not they were prescribed statins prior to admission. Baseline characteristics were compared and hazard ratios calculated for statin users versus statin non-users for all-cause mortality over follow-up of up to 4 years.Results: A total of 1,687 patients (mean age 70.6 years) were followed, including 596 statin users and 1,091 non-users. There were more men in the statin user group (58.4% vs. 48.5%), and statin users were more likely to have a history of cardiovascular disease (58.6% vs. 25.1%), prescription for frusemide as a proxy for heart failure (47.7% vs. 24.5%) or diabetes (35.4% vs.11.6%) than statin non-users (p<0.001). A total of 671 deaths occurred during the follow-up period. After adjustment for age, sex, ethnic group, history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and prescription for frusemide, the hazard ratio for statin users vs. statin non-users for all-cause mortality was 0.69 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.84).Conclusions: Statin use is associated with a 30% reduction in all-cause mortality at 3-4 years after first admission for COPD, irrespective of a past history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Removal of the legislative ban on fireworks in 1996 has had a significant effect on the incidence of eye injuries. These injuries are potentially preventable with stricter control on the availability of fireworks and a greater awareness of the ocular risks they pose.