Comparison of detection methods for HPV status as a prognostic marker for loco-regional control after radiochemotherapy in patients with HNSCC

To compare six HPV detection methods in pre-treatment FFPE tumour samples from patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who received postoperative (N = 175) or primary (N = 90) radiochemotherapy.

from Imaging via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2CoPZYi

Evaluation of Virtual Monoenergetic Imaging Algorithms for Dual-Energy Carotid and Intracerebral CT Angiography: Effects on Image Quality, Artefacts and Diagnostic Performance for the Detection of Stenosis

Publication date: Available online 30 December 2017
Source:European Journal of Radiology
Author(s): Doris Leithner, Scherwin Mahmoudi, Julian L. Wichmann, Simon S. Martin, Lukas Lenga, Moritz H. Albrecht, Christian Booz, Christophe T. Arendt, Martin Beeres, Tommaso D'Angelo, Boris Bodelle, Thomas J. Vogl, Jan-Erik Scholtz
PurposeTo investigate the impact of traditional (VMI) and noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI+) algorithms on quantitative and qualitative image quality, and the assessment of stenosis in carotid and intracranial dual-energy CTA (DE-CTA).Materials and methodsDE-CTA studies of 40 patients performed on a third-generation 192-slice dual-source CT scanner were included in this retrospective study. 120-kVp image-equivalent linearly-blended, VMI and VMI+ series were reconstructed. Quantitative analysis included evaluation of contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of the aorta, common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and basilar artery. VMI and VMI+ with highest CNR, and linearly-blended series were rated qualitatively. Three radiologists assessed artefacts and suitability for evaluation at shoulder height, carotid bifurcation, siphon, and intracranial using 5-point Likert scales. Detection and grading of stenosis were performed at carotid bifurcation and siphon.ResultsHighest CNR values were observed for 40-keV VMI+ compared to 65-keV VMI and linearly-blended images (P < 0.001). Artefacts were low in all qualitatively assessed series with excellent suitability for supraaortic artery evaluation at shoulder and bifurcation height. Suitability was significantly higher in VMI+ and VMI compared to linearly-blended images for intracranial and ICA assessment (P<0.002). VMI and VMI+ showed excellent accordance for detection and grading of stenosis at carotid bifurcation and siphon with no differences in diagnostic performance.Conclusion40-keV VMI+ showed improved quantitative image quality compared to 65-keV VMI and linearly-blended series in supraaortic DE-CTA. VMI and VMI+ provided increased suitability for carotid and intracranial artery evaluation with excellent assessment of stenosis, but did not translate into increased diagnostic performance.



from Imaging via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2q3rbjG

Specialized Plant Metabolism Characteristics and Impact on Target Molecule Biotechnological Production

Abstract

Plant secondary metabolism evolved in the context of highly organized and differentiated cells and tissues, featuring massive chemical complexity operating under tight environmental, developmental and genetic control. Biotechnological demand for natural products has been continuously increasing because of their significant value and new applications, mainly as pharmaceuticals. Aseptic production systems of plant secondary metabolites have improved considerably, constituting an attractive tool for increased, stable and large-scale supply of valuable molecules. Surprisingly, to date, only a few examples including taxol, shikonin, berberine and artemisinin have emerged as success cases of commercial production using this strategy. The present review focuses on the main characteristics of plant specialized metabolism and their implications for current strategies used to produce secondary compounds in axenic cultivation systems. The search for consonance between plant secondary metabolism unique features and various in vitro culture systems, including cell, tissue, organ, and engineered cultures, as well as heterologous expression in microbial platforms, is discussed. Data to date strongly suggest that attaining full potential of these biotechnology production strategies requires being able to take advantage of plant specialized metabolism singularities for improved target molecule yields and for bypassing inherent difficulties in its rational manipulation.

from #AlexandrosSfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2Ccb6Ot
via IFTTT

A review of mathematical modeling and simulation of controlled-release fertilizers

Publication date: 10 February 2018
Source:Journal of Controlled Release, Volume 271
Author(s): Sayed Ameenuddin Irfan, Radzuan Razali, KuZilati KuShaari, Nurlidia Mansor, Babar Azeem, Ashlee N. Ford Versypt
Nutrients released into soils from uncoated fertilizer granules are lost continuously due to volatilization, leaching, denitrification, and surface run-off. These issues have caused economic loss due to low nutrient absorption efficiency and environmental pollution due to hazardous emissions and water eutrophication. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) can change the release kinetics of the fertilizer nutrients through an abatement strategy to offset these issues by providing the fertilizer content in synchrony with the metabolic needs of the plants. Parametric analysis of release characteristics of CRFs is of paramount importance for the design and development of new CRFs. However, the experimental approaches are not only time consuming, but they are also cumbersome and expensive. Scientists have introduced mathematical modeling techniques to predict the release of nutrients from the CRFs to elucidate fundamental understanding of the dynamics of the release processes and to design new CRFs in a shorter time and with relatively lower cost. This paper reviews and critically analyzes the latest developments in the mathematical modeling and simulation techniques that have been reported for the characteristics and mechanisms of nutrient release from CRFs. The scope of this review includes the modeling and simulations techniques used for coated, controlled-release fertilizers.

Graphical abstract

from #AlexandrosSfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2zQtmGR
via IFTTT

Enhanced antitumor and anti-metastasis efficacy against aggressive breast cancer with a fibronectin-targeting liposomal doxorubicin

Publication date: 10 February 2018
Source:Journal of Controlled Release, Volume 271
Author(s): Kejun Jiang, Xu Song, Liuqing Yang, Lin Li, Zhuoya Wan, Xun Sun, Tao Gong, Qing Lin, Zhirong Zhang
The chemotherapy of aggressive breast tumor is usually accompanied by a poor prognosis because of the metastasis of tumor cells. Thus, it is important to simultaneously enhance antitumor and anti-metastasis efficacy. Fibronectin and its complexes are expressed on the walls of tumor vessels and in tumor stroma. Moreover, the expression of fibronectin in metastatic sites is even higher than that in primary tumors. Herein, we designed a fibronectin-targeting CREKA-modified liposomal doxorubicin (CREKA-Lipo-Dox) for the therapy of metastatic breast tumor. CREKA-Lipo was uniformly formed with high entrapment efficiency. It exhibited longer blood circulation time compared with free Dox, and there was no significant change compared with PEG-Lipo-Dox. Immunofluorescence results revealed that the CREKA-Lipo-Dox could specifically bind to fibronectin in the tumor vessels and tumor stroma. The antitumor and anti-metastasis efficacy of CREKA-loaded liposome was more obvious than that of free Dox or unmodified Dox-Lipo. Taken together, binding fibronectin by CREKA could be an attractive therapeutic strategy for metastatic breast cancer in the future.

Graphical abstract

from #AlexandrosSfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2zQtkPf
via IFTTT

Bacillus spore-based oral carriers loading curcumin for the therapy of colon cancer

Publication date: 10 February 2018
Source:Journal of Controlled Release, Volume 271
Author(s): Liang Yin, Zhan Meng, Yuxiao Zhang, Kaikai Hu, Wuya Chen, Kaibin Han, Bao-Yan Wu, Rong You, Chu-Hua Li, Ying Jin, Yan-Qing Guan
Oral drug delivery has attracted substantial attention due to its advantages over other administration routes. Bacillus spores, as oral probiotic agents, are applied widely. In this paper, a novel Bacillus spore-based oral colon targeted carrier loading curcumin was developed for colon cancer treatment. Curcumin was linked covalently with the outer coat of Bacillus spore and folate, respectively (SPORE-CUR-FA). Bacillus spores are capable of delivering drugs to the colon area through gastric barrier, taking the advantage of its tolerance to the harsh conditions and disintegration of the outer coat of spores after germination in the colon. The drug release in vitro and in vivo of SPORE-CUR-FA was investigated. Results showed that SPORE-CUR-FA had the characteristics of colon-targeted drug release. Pharmacokinetic studies confirmed that Bacillus spore-based carriers could efficiently improve the oral bioavailability of curcumin. In vitro and in vivo anti-tumor studies showed that SPORE-CUR-FA had substantial ability for inhibiting colon cancer cells. These findings suggest that this Bacillus spore-based oral drug delivery system has a great potential for the treatment of colon cancer.

Graphical abstract

from #AlexandrosSfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2zPC0Fy
via IFTTT

Combined electrical stimulation and exercise for swallow rehabilitation post-stroke: a pilot randomized control trial

Abstract

Background

Dysphagia is common after stroke, affecting up to 50% of patients initially. It can lead to post-stroke pneumonia, which causes 30% of stroke-related deaths, a longer hospital stay and poorer health outcomes. Dysphagia care post-stroke generally focuses on the management of symptoms, via modified oral intake textures and adapted posture, rather than direct physical rehabilitation of the swallowing function. Transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a promising rehabilitation technology that can be used to stimulate swallowing; however, findings regarding efficacy have been conflicting.

Aims

This pilot randomized controlled study involving three UK sites compared the efficacy of the Ampcare Effective Swallowing Protocol (ESP), combining NMES with swallow-strengthening exercises, with usual care in order to clarify evidence on NMES in the treatment of dysphagia post-stroke. A further objective was to pilot recruitment procedures and outcome measures in order to inform the design of a full-scale trial.

Methods & Procedures

Thirty patients were recruited and randomized into either (1) usual speech and language therapy dysphagia care; or (2) Ampcare ESP, receiving treatment 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included: the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), the Rosenbek Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) and patient-reported outcomes (Swallow Related Quality of Life—SWAL-QOL).

Outcomes & Results

Thirty patients were recruited; 15 were randomized to the Ampcare ESP intervention arm and 15 to usual care. A greater proportion (75%, or 9/12) of patients receiving Ampcare ESP improved compared with 57% (or 8/14) of the usual-care group. Patients receiving Ampcare ESP also made clinically meaningful change (a comparative benefit of 1.5 on the FOIS, and on the PAS: 1.35 for diet and 0.3 for fluids) compared with usual care. The intervention group also reported much better outcome satisfaction.

Conclusions & Implications

The pilot demonstrated successful recruitment, treatment safety and tolerability and clinically meaningful outcome improvements, justifying progression to a fully powered study. It also showed clinically meaningful treatment trends for the Ampcare ESP intervention.

from #AlexandrosSfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2EigRHO
via IFTTT