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Newspeak in radiology

from #AlexandrosSfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2pWLvCG
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Chitosan-modified PLGA nanoparticles tagged with 5TR1 aptamer for in vivo tumor-targeted drug delivery

Publication date: 1 August 2017
Source:Cancer Letters, Volume 400
Author(s): Sahar Taghavi, Mohammad Ramezani, Mona Alibolandi, Khalil Abnous, Seyed Mohammad Taghdisi
In this study, we reported epirubicin (Epi) encapsulated nanoparticles (NPs) formulated with biocompatible and biodegradable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) modified with chitosan (CS) through a physical adsorption method. Using chitosan, the solubility and surface charge of PLGA was modified to make efficient drug carriers for cancer cells. To improve the anti-tumor efficacy, we developed targeted therapy of tumor cells using a 5TR1 DNA aptamer (Apt) against the MUC1 receptor. To prove the MUC1 receptor-mediated uptake of Epi-PLGA-CS-Apt NPs in the cells, competition experiments were carried out.In vitro experiments, cytotoxicity assay and fluorescence uptake assay demonstrated that fabricated NPs with or without aptamers showed significantly high therapeutic efficiency in MCF7 cells (breast cancer cell) compared with free Epi, while in BALB/c mice bearing C26 cells (murine colon carcinoma cell), targeted NP groups exhibited significant tumor growth inhibition and higher inclination to tumor compared with non-targeted NPs. Hence, our in vivo results revealed that non-targeted NPs may diffuse away from the tumor site and release Epi in the extracellular space and decrease concentration of the drug in the targeted tissue. This study indicated Epi-PLGA-CS-Apt has great potential as a promising nanoplatform for in vivo cancer therapy and could be of great value in medical use.

Graphical abstract

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Development of a scoring system to predict massive postpartum transfusion in placenta previa totalis

Abstract

Purpose

It is important to predict massive postpartum hemorrhage in patients with placenta previa totalis (PPT) and a method that accurately predicts this event is needed. The present study developed a scoring system that predicts massive transfusion in patients with PPT.

Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study comprised 238 patients with PPT who underwent caesarean section between January 2004 and December 2010. Massive transfusion was defined as the transfusion of ≥8 units of packed red blood cells within 24 h after delivery. Multivariate regression analysis was used to estimate the risks of massive transfusion. A probability score model was then constructed and tested for performance. Subsequently, the model was validated in other patients with PPT (n = 117).

Results

Thirty-one patients (13.0%) underwent massive transfusion. Ultrasound suspicion of placental adhesion, previous caesarean section, gestational age <37 weeks, sponge-like appearance of the cervix, and anterior placenta were all independent predictors of massive transfusion. The performance for the score model revealed good calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow chi-squared 1.64; P = 0.44), and its discrimination (the area under the receiver operating characteristic for this model was 0.84) was better than when suspicion of placental adhesion was used alone (0.67; P < 0.001). In the validation set, the performance was 0.88.

Conclusion

The scoring system developed using the five independent risk factors had better performance to predict massive transfusion in patients with PPT than when suspicion of placental adhesion was used alone. However, further large-scale studies are warranted to clarify the usefulness and accuracy of this model.

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Sedative effects of oral pregabalin premedication on intravenous sedation using propofol target-controlled infusion

Abstract

Purpose

The sedative effects of pregabalin during perioperative period have not been sufficiently characterized. The aim of this study was to verify the sedative effects of premedication with pregabalin on intravenous sedation (IVS) using propofol and also to assess the influences of this agent on circulation, respiration, and postanesthetic complications.

Methods

Ten healthy young volunteers underwent 1 h of IVS using propofol, three times per subject, on separate days (first time, no pregabalin; second time, pregabalin 100 mg; third time, pregabalin 200 mg). The target blood concentration (C _T) of propofol was increased in a stepwise fashion based on the bispectral index (BIS) value. Ramsay's sedation score (RSS) was determined at each propofol C _T. Propofol C _T was analyzed at each sedation level. Circulation and respiration during IVS and complications were also verified.

Results

Propofol C _T was reduced at BIS values of 60 and 70 in both premedicated groups (100 mg: p = 0.043 and 0.041; 200 mg: p = 0.004 and 0.016, respectively) and at a BIS value of 80 in the pregabalin 200 mg group (p < 0.001). Propofol C _T was decreased at RSS 4–6 in the pregabalin 100 mg group (RSS 4: p = 0.047; RSS 5: p = 0.007; RSS 6: p = 0.014), and at RSS 3–6 in the pregabalin 200 mg group (RSS 3–5: p < 0.001; RSS 6: p = 0.002).

Conclusion

We conclude that oral premedication with pregabalin reduces the amount of propofol required to obtain an acceptable and adequate sedation level.

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MEP monitoring during aortic surgery: what we truly know

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The Greek Version of the Ohkuma Questionnaire for Dysphagia Screening

http://otorhinolaryngology-crete.blogspot.gr/2017/05/the-greek-version-of-ohkuma.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Cross-cultural translation of the Western Ontario Cuff Index in Chinese and its validation in patients with rotator cuff disorders

Abstract

Background

The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is a scale designed to evaluate the impact of rotator cuff (RC) disorders on patients' general quality of life. Our study aims to adapt the WORC for Chinese patients and to assess its reliability, validity, and responsiveness in Chinese patients with RC disorders.

Methods

First, we developed the Chinese version of the WORC (C-WORC) in a five-step procedure of translation and cross-cultural adaptation. Next, the recruiting patients finished all three rounds of scales of the C-WORC, the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and the Oxford Shoulder score (OSS). Then we calculated Cronbach's alpha, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficient (r or r _s), the effect size (ES), and the standardized response mean (SRM) to evaluate the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the C-WORC, respectively.

Results

Overall, 124 patients with RC disorders successfully completed the first two rounds of the scales, and 108 patients completed the last round of the scales. Good or excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.872–0.954) was found in the overall scale and subscales of C-WORC, as well as good or excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.828–0.961). Moderate or good correlations (r/r _s  = 0.472–0.787) were obtained between the physical subscales of the C-WORC and the OSS and the physical subscales of SF-36; the results were also obtained for the emotions subscale of the C-WORC and the mental subscales of SF-36 (r/r _s  = 0.520–0.713), which, adequately illustrated that good validity was included in the C-WORC. In addition, good responsiveness was also observed in the overall scale and subscales of the C-WORC (ES = 1.57–2.27, SRM = 1.52–2.28).

Conclusions

The C-WORC scale is reliable, valid and responsible for the evaluation of Chinese-speaking patients with RC disorders and would be an effective instrument.

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