Functionalizing nanoparticles with cancer-targeting antibodies: A comparison of strategies.

Standard cancer therapies sometimes fail to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor cells in a safe and effective manner. Nanotechnology takes the lead in providing new therapeutic options for cancer due to major potential for selective targeting and controlled drug release. Antibodies and antibody fragments are attracting much attention as a source of targeting ligands to bind specific receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells. Therefore, researchers are devoting time and effort to develop targeting strategies based on nanoparticles functionalized with antibodies, which hold great promise to enhance therapeutic efficacy and circumvent severe side effects. Several methods have been described to immobilize antibodies on the surface of nanoparticles. However, selecting the most appropriate for each application is challenging but also imperative to preserve antigen binding ability and yield stable antibody-conjugated nanoparticles. From this perspective, we aim to provide considerable knowledge on the most widely used methods of functionalization that can be helpful for decision-making and design of conjugation protocols as well. This review summarizes adsorption, covalent conjugation (carbodiimide, maleimide and "click" chemistries) and biotin-avidin interaction, while discussing the advantages, limitations and relevant therapeutic approaches currently under investigation.

Extensive Hepatectomy as an Alternative to Liver Transplant in Advanced Hepatoblastoma: A New Protocol Used in a Pediatric Liver Transplantation Center.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is a key factor in the treatment of hepatoblastoma, but choosing between an aggressive resection and liver transplant may be an extremely difficult task. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of patients with advanced hepatoblastoma: pretreatment extent of disease (PRETEXT)/post-treatment extent of disease (POST-TEXT) III and IV undergoing aggressive resections or living donor liver transplant in cases involving the entire liver. Based on this experience, a new protocol for the treatment of these patients was proposed. METHODS: A retrospective study included patients with advanced hepatoblastoma (POST-TEXT III and IV) who were referred for a liver transplant from 2010 to 2017. RESULTS: A total of 24 children were included: 13 (54.2%) were male, with a median age at diagnosis of 42 months (range, 15-120 months), and a history of prematurity was identified in 20.8% of the patients. Ten cases (41.7%) were staged as PRETEXT/POST-TEXT III, and 12 cases (50.0%) were staged as PRETEXT/POST-TEXT IV. Two patients were referred after posthepatectomy recurrence. Five patients underwent a liver transplant, with recurrence and death in 2 patients (40.0%) within a mean period of 6 months. In the extensive hepatectomy group, there was recurrence in 6 patients (31.6%), with disease-free outcomes and overall survival in 63.2% and 94.7% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: In cases of advanced hepatoblastoma, an extensive surgical approach is a valuable option. The fact that the team was fully prepared to proceed with living donor liver transplant allowed the surgeon to be more aggressive and to switch to transplantation when resection was not possible.

The Ankle-Brachial Index is Associated With Cardiovascular Complications After Noncardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the association of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and cardiovascular complications after noncardiac surgery. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated patients referred for noncardiac surgery. The ABI was performed before surgery. Patients with abnormal ABI (≤ 0.9) were included in the peripheral artery disease (PAD) group and the remaining constituted the control group. Cardiac troponin and electrocardiogram were obtained 72 hours after surgery. Patients were followed up to 30 days, and primary end point was the occurrence of any cardiovascular event: cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, isolated troponin elevation (ITE), decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic shock, unstable arrhythmias, nonfatal cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, stroke, or PAD symptoms increase. RESULTS: We evaluated 124 patients (61.3% male; mean age 65.4 years). During the study, 57.9% of patients in the PAD group had an event versus 25.7% in the control group (P = .011). The ITE was the most observed event (24.2%). After logistic regression, the odds ratio for ITE was 7.4 (95% confidence interval 2.2-25.0, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients submitted to noncardiac surgery, abnormal ABI is associated with a higher occurrence of a cardiovascular event.

Evaluation of 3D nano-macro porous bioactive glass scaffold for hard tissue engineering.

Recently, nano-macro dual-porous, three-dimensional (3D) glass structures were developed for use as bioscaffolds for hard tissue regeneration, but there have been concerns regarding the interconnectivity and homogeneity of nanopores in the scaffolds, as well as the cytotoxicity of the environment deep inside due to limited fluid access. Therefore, mercury porosimetry, nitrogen absorption, and TEM have been used to characterize nanopore network of the scaffolds. In parallel, viability of MG 63 human osteosarcoma cells seeded on scaffold surface was investigated by fluorescence, confocal and electron microscopy methods. The results show that cells attach, migrate and penetrate inside the glass scaffold with high proliferation and viability rate. Additionally, scaffolds were implanted under the skin of a male New Zealand rabbit for in vivo animal test. Initial observations show the formation of new tissue with blood vessels and collagen fibers deep inside the implanted scaffolds with no obvious inflammatory reaction. Thus, the new nano-macro dual-porous glass structure could be a promising bioscaffold for use in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering for bone regeneration.

Consumo de medicamentos por idosos segundo prescrição médica em Jáu - SP / Medically-prescribed drug intake among the elderly in Jaú, São Paulo State, Brazil

Realizou-se este trabalho com o objetivo de conhecer as interações medicamentosas mais frequentemente ocorridas no consumo de medicamentos por prescrição médica entre os idosos atendidos na rede municipal de saúde de Jaú-SP. Sabe-se que são os idosos que convivem mais frequentemente com problemas crônicos de saúde, o que os leva a uma maior utilização de serviços de saúde e a um elevado consumo de medicamentos. Na presença de doenças concomitantes e na consequente prática da politerapia, aumenta a probabilidade de ocorrência de reações adversas e interações medicamentosas. A população estudada foi de 148 idosos com 65 anos ou mais, que compareceram à farmácia do Núcleo de Gestão Assistencial (NGA-25) da cidade de Jaú, no período de agosto a dezembro de 2004. Os dados foram coletados através da prescrição médica e as variáveis estudadas foram o sexo e a idade. Quanto aos medicamentos foram classificados, segundo a classe farmacológica e as interações medicamentosas. Como resultados observou-se que o consumo de medicamentos segundo o sexo foi de 3,8 medicamentos entre as mulheres e 3,9 entre os homens. Quanto a idade, o maior consumo foi no grupo de 75 a 84 anos, com 4,2 medicamentos. As classes terapêuticas mais prescritas, em ordem decrescente de ocorrência, foram: anti-hipertensivos, 25,0%, cardioterápicos, 15,5%, diuréticos, e antidiabéticos, 10,7%. Concluiu-se que as classes terapêuticas mais envolvidas com interações foram os cardioterápicos, diuréticos e antihipertensivos. Os princípios ativos mais problemáticos foram digoxina, amiodarona, furosemida, captopril, propanolol e nifedipina

Regional odontodysplasia: an unusual case with a conservative approach.

A case of a 14-year-old male with regional odontodysplasia is reported. In this presentation many atypical clinical and radiographical features of this condition are present. The chief complaint of the patient was the enlargement of the gingiva and, according to the literature, inflammatory processes are the main reason why patients look for care. Moreover, there was no radiographic evidence of unerupted teeth in this report. The functional and psychological benefits of the conservative approach are emphasised.

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phoma cava. Report of a case and review of the literature.

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis observed in a male patient presenting pulmonary sarcoidosis and submitted to corticosteroid treatment. He presented nodular erythematous-violaceous skin lesions in the dorsum of the right hand. Histopathological examination of the biopsied lesion revealed dematiaceous hyphae and yeast-like cells, with a granulomatous tissual reaction. The isolated fungus was identified as Phoma cava. A review of the literature on fungal infection caused by different Phoma species, is presented. The patient healed after therapy with amphotericin B. followed by itraconazole.

Importância e potencial utilizaçäo da sistemática filogenética em estudos de Veterinária / Importance of phylogenetic systematics and its potential use in Veterinary studies

Säo apresentados princípios básicos de sistemática filogenética, enfocando como o conhecimento das relaçöes filogenéticas de um dado grupo de animais silvestres é heuristicamente importante para resolver casos veterinários, desde tratamentos até conhecimento da anatomia dos grupos e seus constituintes

Fluxos de casos de malaria no Brasil em 1980. / Flows of cases of malaria in Brazil in 1980

Os resultados de 25 mil investigacoes de casos de malaria, realizadas em todas as regioes brasileiras, em 1980, permitem tracar os principais fluxos correspondentes aos deslocamentos de casos. Constatouse a existencia de uma forte pressao das areas com alta transmissao para aquelas onde a endemia foi eliminada, assim como uma significativa migracao de doentes entre Unidades da Amazonia Legal. Estes deslocamentos vem influenciando a epidemiologia da malaria, reforcando a necessidade de ser mantida uma ativa vigilancia epidemiologica a fim de evitar-se a reintroducao da endemia em areas sem transmissao