Synthesis and Optimization of Deesterified Acacia-Alginate Nanohydrogel for Amethopterin Delivery.

Naturally obtained materials are preferable for the production of biomedicine in biomedical applications. Acacia gum is has recently become a hopeful one in the biomedicine production due to its excellent properties, namely, emulsifier, stabilizing mediator, suspending agent, etc. In this novel work, we synthesised and characterized the deesterified Acacia gum-alginate nanohydrogel (DEA-AG NPs) as a carrier for amethopterin (ATN) delivery. This combination is used in the drug effectiveness and tissue engineering. In this work, the Taguchi route is implemented for estimating of particle size and zeta potential (mV) through optimization. Following three parameters are considered for this work: DEA solution concentration (0.008, 0.016, 0.024, and 0.032 w/v %), alginate molecular weight (3, 6, 9, and 12 MW), and ATN/DEA ratio (1 : 4, 1 : 8, 1 : 12, and 1 : 16 w/w %). In particle size analysis and zeta potential analysis, the DEA solution concentration is highly influenced. Minimum particle size is found as 148.50 nm. Similarly, maximum zeta potential is identified as 29.5 mV.

A Rare Case of Pseudotumor Formation following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

A 59 year old man who had undergone left total knee arthroplasty in 2008 presented with a 5 month history of left knee pain and persistent swelling. Workup for infection was negative and the patient was suspected to be suffering from particle disease and chronic synovitis. Imaging revealed an internally rotated tibial component. Intraoperative findings revealed extensive polyethylene wear with resultant metalon- metal articulation, soft tissue metallosis and a pseudotumor like mass at the posterolateral aspect of the popliteal fossa. This was extensively debrided and revision knee arthroplasty was performed. Suboptimal component alignment can lead to localized high loading, wear and metallosis, which in this case resulted in the formation of a pseudotumor.

A meta-learning approach to the regularized learning-case study: blood glucose prediction.

In this paper we present a new scheme of a kernel-based regularization learning algorithm, in which the kernel and the regularization parameter are adaptively chosen on the base of previous experience with similar learning tasks. The construction of such a scheme is motivated by the problem of prediction of the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients. We describe how the proposed scheme can be used for this problem and report the results of the tests with real clinical data as well as comparing them with existing literature.

Familial amyloid precursor protein mutants cause caspase-6-dependent but amyloid ß-peptide-independent neuronal degeneration in primary human neuron cultures.

Although familial Alzheimer disease (AD)-associated autosomal dominant mutants have been extensively studied, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration induced by these mutants in AD. Wild-type, Swedish or London amyloid precursor protein (APP) transfection in primary human neurons induced neuritic beading, in which several co-expressed proteins, such as enhanced green fluorescent protein, red fluorescent protein (RFP)-tau and RFP-ubiquitin, accumulated. APP-induced neuritic beading was dependent on caspase-6 (Casp6), because it was inhibited with 5 µM z-VEID-fmk or with dominant-negative Casp6. Neuritic beading was independent from APP-mediated amyloid ß-peptide (Aß) production, because the APPM596V (APP(MV)) mutant, which cannot generate Aß, still induced Casp6-dependent neuritic beading. However, the beaded neurons underwent Casp6- and Aß-dependent cell death. These results indicate that overexpression of wild-type or mutant APP causes Casp6-dependent but Aß-independent neuritic degeneration in human neurons. Because Casp6 is activated early in AD and is involved in axonal degeneration, these results suggest that the inhibition of Casp6 may represent an efficient early intervention against familial forms of AD. Furthermore, these results indicate that removing Aß without inhibiting Casp6 may have little effect in preventing the progressive dementia associated with sporadic or familial AD.

Structural evolution due to Zn and Te adsorption on As-exposed Si(211): density functional calculation.

Systematic theoretical investigations are carried out under the density functional formalism in an effort to understand the initial structural evolution due to the adsorption of ZnTe on As-exposed Si(211). Our calculations indicate that after the adsorption of Zn and Te on the As-exposed Si(211), the stable atomic structure qualitatively follows the ideal atomic structure of Si(211) with alteration of various bond lengths. Since the basic symmetry of the Si(211) is preserved after the adsorption of ZnTe, the deposition of ZnTe on the As terminated Si(211) prior to the deposition of CdTe and HgCdTe is useful for obtaining an ultimate quality layer of HgCdTe on Si(211). Some of our results are compared with the available experimental results, and they are found to agree with each other qualitatively.

Fluorescent resonance energy transfer based detection of biological contaminants through hybrid quantum dot-quencher interactions.

A nanoscale sensor employing fluorescent resonance energy transfer interactions between fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) and organic quencher molecules can be used for the multiplexed detection of biological antigens in solution. Detection occurs when the antigens to be detected displace quencher-labelled inactivated (or dead) antigens of the same type attached to QD-antibody complexes through equilibrium reactions. This unquenches the QDs, allowing detection to take place through the observation of photoluminescence in solution or through the fluorescence imaging of unquenched QD complexes trapped on filter surfaces. Multiplexing can be accomplished by using several different sizes of QDs, with each size QD labelled with an antibody for a different antigen, providing the ability to detect several types of antigens or biological contaminants simultaneously in near real-time with high specificity and sensitivity.

Antibacterial essential oils in malodorous cancer patients: clinical observations in 30 patients.

Malodorous necrotic ulcers in cancer patients are of major concern as it leads to social isolation and poor quality of life. Current medications and topical therapies have proven inadequate in their ability to reduce foul smell to acceptable levels. We report the positive experience we have had in using antibacterial essential oils in patients with incurable head and neck cancer and associated malodorous necrotic ulcers. All patients received a standard course of therapy with oral or systemic antibiosis. In addition, we rinsed the ulcers with an antibacterial essential oil mix (mainly based on Eucalyptus oil) twice a day. All patients experienced complete resolution of the foul smell by only the third or fourth day of therapy. As a secondary effect we saw that besides smell reduction the oils had anti-inflammatory effects on neoplastic ulcers. In some patients ulcers started to heal and achieved complete re-epithiliazation. The patients experienced great personal relief upon resolution of their malodorous conditions. Quality of life improved significantly with the resulting reintroduction of social contact with friends and relatives.

Revision of total hip arthroplasty using an anterior cortical window, extensive strut allografts, and an impaction graft: follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To report the outcome of revised total hip arthroplasty procedures involving an anterior cortical window, extensive strut allografts, and an Exeter impaction graft. METHOD: Eight patients (9 hips) with a mean age of 58 years underwent revision of total hip arthroplasty using the Exeter hip impaction graft system and strut allografts between 1995 and 1998. An extensile anterior approach was used, and an anterior cortical window was created in the femur, to remove the old implant. External strut allografts were attached by wires to provide cortical support. The mean follow-up duration was 74 months. Indications for surgery were aseptic loosening of previous implants in 8 hips and infection of one hip that had previously undergone total arthroplasty. RESULTS: 19 Dall Miles cables, 4 ordinary cerclage wires, and 8 cerclage wires tightened with the clincher knot technique were used to secure the allograft to the host bone. The strut grafts were found to be incorporated in all cases. No wires became loose. One patient developed 20 degrees of angulation at the allograft-host bone junction. Using the method of Fowler and Gie, we found that one femoral implant had subsided 2 mm within the cement mantle. Two other implants had 1 mm of subsidence at the cement bone interface, and one patient had a major subsidence of 15 mm that required revision. CONCLUSION: Using an anterior cortical window in the femur to remove the old implant does not predispose to failure of the allograft to incorporate into the host bone.

Small stem Exeter total hip replacement: clinical and radiological follow-up over a minimum of 2.5 years.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome in patients undergoing small stem Exeter total hip replacement. METHODS: A total of 46 small stem Exeter total hip replacements were performed on 44 consecutive patients (18 men and 26 women) attending the University of Malaya Medical Centre. The mean age at the time of operation was 58 years (range, 24-81 years). Of the 46 procedures performed, 35 were primary total hip replacements and 11 were revision operations, with aseptic loosening of the original implant being the main indication for revision. The main indications for surgery in primary cases were avascular necrosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were assessed at 6 weeks', 12 weeks', 6 months' follow-up, and annually thereafter. Postoperative cementing technique was also assessed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 4 years. The mean Oxford Hip Score improved from 46 points preoperatively to 17 points at the final follow-up examination. There were no revision operations, no implant breakages, and no excessive migration of the implants. The potential complications of implant failure due to smaller implant size and increased patient activity were not observed. CONCLUSION: Due to the smaller size of Asian femora, the small stem Exeter implant is a very useful development. This study suggests that it will perform as well as its larger counterparts.

Synthesis of new tricyclic melatoninergic ligands.

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of new tricyclic analogs of the hormone melatonin, which act as probes of the constraints at the hormone's receptor site with regard to the lower N1-C2 region of the indole moiety of melatonin. Three of the new compounds, N-[2-(2-methoxy-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]indol-10-yl)ethyl]acetamide (9), and the respective propionamide 10 and butyramide 11, are as potent as melatonin in the Xenopus laevis melanophore model.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast: diagnosis, management and outcome. A report of a new case and review of literature.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast is very rare and represents a diagnostic challenge. Only 16 cases have been reported in the English language literature. We report another new case and have analysed reports of the previous cases aiming to present a simple evidence-based approach to the clinical, radiological and pathological diagnosis of this rare tumour. The average age of presentation is 56 years. All neoplasms have been limited to the breast at the time of diagnosis. The usual presentation is a slowly growing mass, but in the current case report the patient present with mastalgia. There is always a possibility of local recurrence or distant spread, which can occur many years after primary surgery. Leiomyosarcoma must be histologically distinguished from leiomyoma and the presence of >3 mitoses per 10 high-power fields is usually indicative of malignancy. Immunohistochemistry is helpful to confirm diagnosis. As this is a slow-growing malignant tumour with a propensity for local recurrence, total mastectomy is the treatment of choice. The tumour is not hormone-dependent and hormone manipulation is not a treatment option.

A simple method for removal of a broken intramedullary nail.

The removal of broken implanted intramedullary nails secondary to re-fracture or non-union is challenging. In 12 cases a simple and safe method has been used to remove broken implants.

The potential for telemedicine in home nursing.

We assessed the proportion of home nursing visits that could be replaced by home telenursing in the UK. A retrospective review of nursing notes in the UK was undertaken using an abstraction instrument developed and tested in the US. A total of 1951 episodes of patient care at home were reviewed: 1450 from Liverpool and 501 from Belfast. A total of 1626 (83%) of the episodes involved 'hands-on' interventions. In Belfast two observers estimated that 14% of home nursing visits could be done via telemedicine while in Liverpool two more observers gave an estimate of 16%. Inter-rater agreement was high (kappa = 0.93 for the Belfast observers and 0.79 for the Liverpool observers). Pilot trials of an analogue video-phone in Belfast suggested that even relatively low-quality compressed video might be useful for home nursing. These findings suggest that telemedicine may have a significant role in the delivery of home health care in the UK.