Triamcinolone acetonide extended-release in patients with osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes: a randomized, phase 2 study.

Objective: Approximately 30% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have knee osteoarthritis. IA corticosteroids used to manage osteoarthritis pain can elevate blood glucose in these patients. We compared blood glucose levels following intra-articular injection of triamcinolone acetonide extended-release (TA-ER), an extended-release, microsphere-based triamcinolone acetonide formulation, vs standard triamcinolone acetonide crystalline suspension (TAcs) in patients with knee osteoarthritis and comorbid type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, phase 2 study (NCT02762370), 33 patients with knee osteoarthritis (American College of Rheumatology criteria) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (HbA1c 6.5-9.0% [48-75 mmol/mol]; 1-2 oral hypoglycaemic agents) were treated with intra-articular TA-ER (32 mg n = 18) or TAcs 40 mg (n = 15). Continuous glucose monitoring-measured glucose (CGMG) was assessed from 1 week pre-injection through 2 weeks postinjection. Endpoints included change in average daily CGMG from baseline (days -3 to -1) to days 1-3 postinjection (CGMGdays1-3) (primary) and percent time average hourly CGMG levels remained in prespecified glycaemic ranges. Results: The change CGMGdays1-3 was significantly lower following TA-ER vs TAcs (14.7 vs 33.9 mg/dl, least-squares-mean-difference [95% CI]: -19.2 [-38.0, -0.4]; P = 0.0452). The percentage of time over days 1-3 that CGMG was in the target glycaemic range (70-180 mg/dl) was numerically greater for TA-ER (63.3%) vs TAcs (49.7%), and that CGMG was >180 mg/dl was lower for TA-ER (34.5%) vs TAcs (49.9%). Non-glycaemic adverse events were mild and comparable between groups. Conclusion: TA-ER may enable intra-articular corticosteroid treatment with minimal blood glucose disruption in patients with knee osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02762370.

Preparation and Characterization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymeric Nanoparticles for Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP).

Natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA), the receptor for the cardiac hormone atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), is expressed abundantly on cancer cells and disruption of ANP-NPRA signaling inhibits tumor burden and metastasis. Since antagonists of NPRA signaling have not provided reproducible results, we reasoned that a synthetic neutralizing antibody to ANP, which has high selectivity and affinity for ANP, could be used to regulate ANP levels and attenuate NPRA signaling. In this study, we prepared molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIPNPs) for ANP using a short peptide of ANP as the template and determined their binding affinity and selectivity. The MIPNPs were prepared by precipitation polymerization using NH2-SLRRSS-CONH2, which is a short peptide from ANP as template, methacrylic acid (MAA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) as functional monomers, bis-acrylamide (BIS) as crosslinker. The average diameter of MIPNPs and non-imprinted nanoparticles (NIPNPs) in water is 215.8 ±4.6 nm and 197.7±3.1 nm respectively. The binding isotherm analysis showed that MIPNPs have a much higher binding affinity for template peptide and ANP than NIPNPs. Scatchard analysis gave an equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd of 7.3 µM with a binding capacity 106.7 µmol/g for template peptide and Kd of 7.9 µM with a binding capacity of 36.0 µmol/g for ANP. Measurements of binding kinetics revealed that MIPNPs reach protein adsorption equilibrium in 30 min. MIPNPs found to have high specificity for ANP with little affinity for BSA or scrambled ANP peptide. MIPNPs also recognized and adsorbed ANP in cell culture media spiked with ANP and human plasma. Taken together, these results indicate that MIPNPs have high affinity and selectivity for ANP and can be used as a synthetic antibody for modulating ANP-NPRA signaling in cancers.

Dual-purpose magnetic micelles for MRI and gene delivery.

Gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach for treating disease, but the efficient delivery of genes to desired locations with minimal side effects remains a challenge. In addition to gene therapy, it is also highly desirable to provide sensitive imaging information in patients for disease diagnosis, screening and post-therapy monitoring. Here, we report on the development of dual-purpose chitosan and polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated magnetic micelles (CP-mag-micelles) that can deliver nucleic acid-based therapeutic agents and also provide magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These 'theranostic' CP-mag-micelles are composed of monodisperse hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) loaded into the cores of micelles that are self-assembled from a block copolymer of poly (D, L-lactide) (PLA) and monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG). For efficient loading and protection of the nucleic acids the micelles were coated with cationic polymers, such as chitosan and PEI. The morphology and size distribution of the CP-mag-micelles were characterized and their potential for use as an MRI-probe was tested using an MRI scanner. The T(2) relaxivity of mag-micelles was similar to CP-mag-micelles confirming that coating with cationic polymers did not alter magnetism. Nanoparticles coated with chitosan:PEI at a weight ratio of 5:5 showed higher transfection efficiency in HEK293, 3T3 and PC3 cells than with weight ratios of 3:7 or 7:3. CP-mag-micelles are biocompatible, can be delivered to various organs and are safe. A single injection of CP-mag-micelles carrying reporter plasmids in vivo expressed genes for at least one week. Collectively, our results demonstrate that a structural reinforcement of SPIONs loaded in the core of an mPEG-PLA micelle coated with cationic polymers provides efficient DNA delivery and enhanced MRI potential, and affords a promising candidate for theranostics in the future.

Examining correlates of methamphetamine and other drug use in pregnant American Indian adolescents.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents have high rates of pregnancy, as well as alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and, increasingly, methamphetamine (meth) use. The progression of adolescent drug use to meth use could have devastating impacts on AI communities, particularly when youth are simultaneously at risk for teen childbearing. In order to inform future prevention efforts, this study explores correlates of meth use in a sample of pregnant AI teens, with a focus on sociodemographic, familial, and cultural factors and use of other drugs.

Pneumococcal susceptibility to meropenem in a mid-south children's hospital.

BACKGROUND: We investigated pneumococcal susceptibility to meropenem in isolates from a tertiary children's hospital where pneumococci are commonly resistant to penicillin and cefotaxime. METHODS: From July 1998 to August 1999, meropenem susceptibilities were determined by E-test for all Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from blood or cerebrospinal fluid and for penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococcal isolates from other sites. RESULTS: Isolates that were penicillin-susceptible or penicillin-intermediate were all susceptible to meropenem. Of 29 penicillin-resistant isolates, 27 were nonsusceptible to meropenem (13 intermediate, 14 resistant). Cefotaxime-susceptible isolates were all susceptible to meropenem. Of 11 cefotaxime-intermediate isolates, 10 were nonsusceptible to meropenem (9 intermediate, 1 resistant). Of 20 cefotaxime-resistant isolates, 17 were nonsusceptible to meropenem (4 intermediate, 13 resistant). CONCLUSIONS: Meropenem resistance is common among pneumococci with decreased susceptibility to penicillin or cefotaxime. The role of this agent in the treatment of invasive infections caused by pneumococci that are resistant to penicillin and cefotaxime may be limited.