pH-Responsive Amphiphilic Triblock Fluoropolymers as Assemble Oxygen Nanoshuttles for Enhancing PDT against Hypoxic Tumor.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment strategy that utilizes photosensitizers to convert oxygen within tumors into reactive singlet oxygen (1O2) to lyse tumor cells. Nevertheless, pre-existing tumor hypoxia and oxygen consumption during PDT can lead to an insufficient oxygen supply, potentially reducing the photodynamic efficacy. In response to this issue, we have devised a pH-responsive amphiphilic triblock fluorinated polymer (PDP) using copper-mediated RDRP. This polymer, composed of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate, 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, and (perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate, self-assembles in an aqueous environment. Oxygen, chlorine e6 (Ce6), and doxorubicin (DOX) can be codelivered efficiently by PDP. The incorporation of perfluorocarbon into the formulation enhances the oxygen-carrying capacity of PDP, consequently extending the lifetime of 1O2. This increased lifetime, in turn, amplifies the PDT effect and escalates the cellular cytotoxicity. Compared with PDT alone, PDP@Ce6-DOX-O2 NPs demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor growth. This study proposes a novel strategy for enhancing the efficacy of PDT.

Laparoscopic splenectomy by secondary pedicle division strategy: a highly cost-effective method.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) shows many advantages compared with open surgery except for the high cost. This study was aimed to recommend secondary pedicle division strategy as a method with high cost-effectiveness. METHODS: From January 2003 to June 2005, 14 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy. The splenic pedicle was controlled by secondary pedicle division strategy in 8 cases and by Endo-GIA in the other 6 cases. A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the operative time, blood loss, time to diet, operative morbidity, postoperative stay, and operative cost. RESULTS: LS was performed successfully in a total of 14 cases. There was no significant difference between the two strategies in operative time, blood loss, time to diet, operative morbidity and postoperative stay. The operative cost of secondary pedicle division strategy group (RMB 8354.38 +/- 752.10) was significantly lower than that of Endo-GIA group (RMB 11053.33 +/- 602.27) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic splenectomy by secondary pedicle division strategy is a safe, effective and economical procedure with the value of popularization in developing countries.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the duodenum: surgical management and survival results.

AIM: To provide long-term survival results of operable duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (DGISTs) in a tertiary center in China. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the pathological data of 28 patients with DGISTs who had been treated surgically at the Second Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH) from June 1998 to December 2006 were reviewed. All pathological slides were examined by a single pathologist to confirm the diagnosis. In patients whose diagnosis was not confirmed by immunohistochemistry at the time of resection, representative paraffin blocks were reassembled, and sections were studied using antibodies against CD117 (c-kit), CD34, smooth muscle actin (SMA), vimentin, S-100, actin (HHF35), and desmin. Operative procedures were classified as wedge resection (WR, local resection with pure closure, without duodenal transection or anastomosis), segmental resection [SR, duodenal transection with Roux-Y or Billroth II gastrojejunostomy (G-J), end-to-end duodenoduodenostomy (D-D), end-to-end or end-to-side duodenojejunostomy (D-J)], and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD, Whipple operation with pancreatojejunostomy). R0 resection was pursued in all cases, and at least R1 resection was achieved. Regional lymphadenectomy was not performed. Clinical manifestations, surgery, medical treatment and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. Related studies in the literature were reviewed. RESULTS: There were 12 males and 16 females patients, with a median age of 53 years (20-76 years). Their major complaints were "gastrointestinal bleeding" (57.2%) and "nonspecific discomfort" (32.1%). About 14.3%, 60.7%, 17.9%, and 7.1% of the tumors originated in the first to fourth portion, respectively, with a median size of 5.8 cm (1.6-20 cm). Treatment was by WR in 5 cases (17.9%), SR in 13 cases (46.4%), and by PD in 10 cases (35.7%). The morbidity and mortality rates were 35.7% and 3.6%, respectively. The median post-operative stay was 14.5 d (5-47 d). During a follow-up of 61 (23-164) mo, the 2-year and 5-year relapse-free survival was 83.3% and 50%, respectively. Eighty-four related articles were reviewed. CONCLUSION: Surgeons can choose to perform limited resection or PD for operable DGISTs if clear surgical margins are achieved. Comprehensive treatment is necessary.

Risk factors for intraoperative hemorrhage at evacuation of a cesarean scar pregnancy following uterine artery embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors associated with massive uterine bleeding during dilation and suction curettage (D&C) after uterine artery embolization (UAE) for the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). METHODS: Data from 128 CSP patients treated with D&C after UAE were analyzed to assess risk factors associated with massive uterine bleeding (blood loss 500mL or more) during D&C after UAE. RESULTS: In total, 15 CSP patients had massive bleeding during D&C after UAE. Univariate analysis showed that a greater gestational age (GA), a larger CSP mass size, a thinner myometrium at the implantation site, a GA of 8weeks or more, a CSP mass diameter of 6cm or more, and evidence of fetal heartbeat were risk factors for massive bleeding (P<0.05). In a binary logistic regression analysis, GA of 8weeks or more and CSP mass diameter of 6cm or more remained as the only significant risk factors for massive bleeding (OR 11.49 [95% CI 1.08-122.13] and OR 96.59 [95% CI 6.20-150.57], respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: For CSP masses with a GA of 8weeks or more and a diameter of 6cm or more, the outcome of surgical evacuation after UAE tends to be unsatisfactory.

Assessment of ¹88Re marked anti MHC class II antibody by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by donor alloantigen.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that anti MHC-II monoclone antibody (MAb) only had partial inhibiting effect of alloreactive mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) in vitro and it was unsteady and non-persistent. The aim of this research was to determine whether radioactive isotope (188)Re marked MHC-II antibody could benefit the allograft acceptance in transplantation as compared to normal MHC-II antibody. METHODS: 188Re was incorporated to 2E9/13F (ab')(2) which is against swine MHC class II antigen (MAb-(188)Re). Porcine peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) cells were examined for proliferation and cytokine mRNA expression after stimulation with MHC-II MAb or MAb-(188)Re. RESULTS: The proliferative response of recipient PBMCs in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) to donor alloantigen showed that the stimulation index of MAb-(188)Re group was significantly lower than the MHC-II MAb group and control (P < 0.05). mRNA expression of interleukin 2, interferon Υ and tumor necrosis factor α (type 1 cytokines) was lower in MAb-(188)Re group than the MHC-II MAb group, while interleukin 10 (type 2 cytokines) was higher in MAb-(188)Re group in the first 24 hours. CONCLUSION: MAb-(188)Re could help the graft acceptance by inhibiting T cell proliferation, lowering the expression of type 1 cytokines and elevating the type 2 cytokines produced by PBMC.