Bursal Acromial Resurfacing Improves Shoulder Biomechanics in a Cadaveric Model of Massive Rotator Cuff Tear.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of bursal acromial resurfacing (acromiograft) on acromiohumeral distance, subacromial contact area, and pressure in a cadaveric model of massive rotator cuff tear. METHODS: Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were tested using a customized shoulder testing system. Humeral head translation, subacromial contact pressure, and the subacromial contact area were evaluated across 4 conditions: (1) intact shoulder; (2) simulated massive rotator cuff tear, (3) 3-mm acromiograft condition, and (4) 6-mm acromiograft condition. The acromiografts were simulated using Teflon and a reported technique. The values were measured at 0°, 20°, and 40° abduction and 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90° external rotation for each abduction status. RESULTS: Compared with a massive cuff tear, the 6-mm acromiograft significantly reduced the superior translation of the humeral head at all abduction/external rotation angles (P < .05). The 3-mm acromiograft also decreased superior translation of the humeral head compared with massive cuff tear, but not all differences were significant. The 3- and 6-mm acromiografts significantly decreased the subacromial contact pressure and increased the subacromial contact area in almost all positions (P < .05). The 3-mm acromiograft maintained biomechanical properties similar to the intact condition, whereas the 6-mm acromiograft increased the contact area. CONCLUSIONS: This biomechanical study demonstrated that both 3- and 6-mm acromiografts using Teflon in a cadaveric model of a massive cuff tear resulted in recentering of the superiorly migrated humeral head, increased the subacromial contact area, and decreased the subacromial contact pressure. The 3-mm graft was sufficient for achieving the intended therapeutic effects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The acromiograft can normalize altered biomechanics and may aid in the treatment of massive cuff tears. Because grafting the acromion's undersurface is new with limited clinical outcomes, further observation is crucial. Using a Teflon instead of an acellular dermal matrix allograft for bursal acromial resurfacing could yield different results, requiring careful interpretation.

Stimulus of Work Function on Electron Transfer Process of Intermetallic Nickel-Antimonide Toward Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting.

Engineering the intermetallic nanostructures as an effective bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) is of great interest in green hydrogen production. However, a few non-noble metals act as bifunctional electrocatalysts, exhibiting terrific HER and OER processes reported to date. Herein the intermetallic nickel-antimonide (Ni─Sb) dendritic nanostructure via cost-effective electro-co-deposition method is designed and their bifunctional electrocatalytic property toward HER and OER is unrevealed. The designed Ni─Sb delivers a superior bifunctional activity in 1 m KOH electrolyte, with a shallow overpotential of ≈119 mV at -10 mA for HER and ≈200 mV at 50 mA for OER. The mechanism behind the excellent bifunctional property of Ni─Sb is discussed via "interfacial descriptor" with the aid of Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). This study reveals the rate of electrocatalytic reaction depends on the energy required for electron and proton transfer from the catalyst's surface. It is noteworthy that the assembled Ni─Sb-90 electrolyzer requires only a minuscule cell voltage of ≈1.46 V for water splitting, which is far superior to the art of commercial catalysts.

Varus-valgus alignment of humeral short stem in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: does it really matter?

BACKGROUND: The utilization of short humeral stems in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty has gained attention in recent times. However, concerns regarding the risk of misalignment during implant insertion are associated with their use. METHODS: Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were prepared for dissection and biomechanical testing. A bespoke humeral implant was fabricated to facilitate assessment of neutral, varus, and valgus alignments using a single stem, and 10° was established as the maximum permissible angle for misalignments. Shift in humerus position and changes in deltoid length attributable to misalignments relative to the neutral position were evaluated using a Microscribe 3DLx system. The impingement-free range of motion, encompassing abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation (ER), was gauged using a digital goniometer. The capacity for abduction was evaluated at maximal abduction angles under successive loading on the middle deltoid. A specialized traction system coupled with a force transducer was employed to measure anterior dislocation forces. RESULTS: Relative to the neutral alignment, valgus alignment resulted in a more distal (10.5 ± 2.4 mm) and medial (8.3 ± 2.2 mm) translation of the humeral component, whereas the varus alignment resulted in the humerus shifting more superiorly (11.2 ± 1.3 mm) and laterally (9.9 ± 0.9 mm) at 0° abduction. The valgus alignment exhibited the highest abduction angle than neutral alignment (86.2°, P < .001). Conversely, the varus alignment demonstrated significantly higher adduction (18.4 ± 7.4°, P < .001), internal rotation (68.9 ± 15.0°, P = .014), and ER (45.2 ± 10.5°, P = .002) at 0° abduction compared to the neutral alignments. Anterior dislocation forces were considerably lower (23.8 N) in the varus group compared to the neutral group at 0°ER (P = .047). Additionally, abduction capability was markedly higher in varus alignment at low deltoid loads than the neutral alignment (5N, P = .009; 7.5 N, P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: The varus position enhances rotational range of motion (ROM) but increases instability, while the valgus position does not significantly impact ROM or instability compared to the neutral position.

Carbyne-enriched carbon anchored on nickel foam: A novel binder-free electrode for supercapacitor application.

Carbon- and carbon derivatives are widely employed as efficient electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. Herein, we demonstrate a cost-effective dip-coating process followed by dehydrohalogenation of PVDF-Ni for the preparation of carbyne enriched carbon anchored on nickel (CEC-Ni) as high-performance electrode material. The removal of halogens in the prepared CEC-Ni were widely characterized using XRD, XPS, Laser Raman, and FT-IR analysis. The occurrence of carbon-carbon vibration in the prepared CEC-Ni foam was confirmed using FT-IR spectroscopy. Laser Raman analysis confirms that the CEC-Ni foam contains both sp and sp2 hybridized carbon. The electrochemical properties of prepared carbyne enriched carbon anchored on nickel foam electrode (CEC-NiE) showed an ideal capacitive properties and delivered a maximum specific capacitance of about 106.12 F g-1 with excellent cyclic retention. Furthermore, the mechanism of charge-storage in the CEC-NiE was analyzed using Dunn's method. In additon, the asymmetric supercapacitor device was fabricated using CEC-NiE as positive and rGO as negative electrode achieved a remarkable energy density of 33.57 Wh Kg-1 with a maximal power density of 14825.71 W Kg-1. These results suggested that the facile preparation of CEC-NiE could be a promising and effective electrode material for future energy storage application.

Low prevalence of MDR-TB in Lao PDR: results from the first national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey.

OBJECTIVE: To present results of the first national anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance survey conducted in Lao PDR between May 2016 and August 2017 to determine the prevalence of resistance to first-line anti-TB drugs among new and previously treated pulmonary TB cases in the country. METHODS: Patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB were enrolled from 42 TB laboratories distributed in 40 clusters throughout the country. Survey sites were selected using probability-proportional-to-size sampling among all diagnostic centres in the country. In addition to smear microscopy, all patients underwent Xpert MTB/RIF testing and those found positive to Mycobacterium tuberculosis underwent sputum culture and drug susceptibility testing using the proportion method on solid Löwenstein-Jensen medium. RESULTS: Among 1006 eligible patients, 946 sputum smear-positive and Xpert MTB/RIF positive (Mycobacterium tuberculosis detected) patients were included in the survey, comprising 897 new and 49 previously treated TB cases. The prevalence of rifampicin-resistant TB was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.5-2.0%, n = 11/897) among new cases and 4.1% (95% CI: 0-9.6%, n = 2/49) among previously treated cases. Among the 946 TB cases confirmed by Xpert MTB/RIF, phenotypic drug sensitivity testing was available for 820 (776 new and 44 previously treated). The prevalence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) was 0.5% (95% CI: 0-1.0%, n = 4/776) among new cases and 2.3% (95% CI: 0-6.7%, n = 1/44) among previously treated cases. No resistance to second-line injectable agents nor to fluoroquinolones was detected among MDR-TB patients. CONCLUSIONS: The first national anti-TB drug resistance survey in Lao PDR demonstrated an encouragingly low prevalence of MDR-TB. The results appear lower than previous WHO estimates, and in line with the routine surveillance based on Xpert MTB/RIF testing (conducted among 50% of presumptive TB patients in 2017). The country should continue to expand its Xpert MTB/RIF network and strive to achieve universal drug susceptibility testing.

OBJECTIF: Présenter les résultats de la première surveillance nationale de la résistance aux médicaments antituberculeux, menée en République Démocratique Populaire (RDP) Lao entre mai 2016 et août 2017 afin de déterminer la prévalence de la résistance aux médicaments antituberculeux de première intention chez les nouveaux cas et les cas déjà traités de tuberculose (TB) pulmonaire dans le pays. MÉTHODES: Les patients atteints de TB pulmonaire à frottis d'expectoration positif ont été recrutés dans 42 laboratoires TB répartis dans 40 groupes à travers tout le pays. Les sites de surveillance ont été sélectionnés sur la base d'un échantillon probabiliste proportionnel à la taille parmi tous les centres de diagnostic du pays. Outre l'examen microscopique des frottis, tous les patients ont subi un test Xpert MTB/RIF et ceux trouvés positifs pour Mycobacterium tuberculosis ont subi une culture d'expectorations et un test de sensibilité aux médicaments en utilisant la méthode des proportions sur un milieu solide de Löwenstein-Jensen. RÉSULTATS: Parmi les 1.006 patients éligibles, 946 patients à frottis positif et Xpert MTB/RIF positif (Mycobacterium tuberculosis détecté) ont été inclus dans la surveillance, comprenant 897 nouveaux cas et 49 cas de TB déjà traités. La prévalence de la TB résistante à la rifampicine était de 1,2% (IC95%: 0,5-2,0%, n = 11/897) chez les nouveaux cas et de 4,1% (IC95%: 0-9,6%, n = 2/49) chez les cas traités. Parmi les 946 cas de TB confirmés par Xpert MTB/RIF, des tests de sensibilité phénotypique aux médicaments étaient disponibles pour 820 (776 nouveaux cas et 44 cas traités antérieurement). La prévalence de la TB multirésistante (TB-MDR) était de 0,5% (IC95%: 0-1,0%, n = 4/776) chez les nouveaux cas et de 2,3% (IC95%: 0 à 6,7%, n = 1/44) parmi les cas précédemment traités. Aucune résistance aux agents injectables de deuxième intention ni aux fluoroquinolones n'a été détectée chez les patients atteints de TB-MDR. CONCLUSIONS: La première surveillance nationale de la résistance aux médicaments antituberculeux menée en RDP Lao a révélé une prévalence rassurante de la TB-MDR. Les résultats apparaissent inférieurs aux estimations précédentes de l'OMS et conformes à la surveillance de routine basée sur le test Xpert MTB/RIF (menée auprès de 50% des patients atteints de TB présumée en 2017). Le pays devrait continuer à élargir son réseau Xpert MTB/RIF et s'efforcer d'atteindre des tests universels de sensibilité aux médicaments.

Spinopelvic Orientation on Radiographs in Various Body Postures: Upright Standing, Chair Sitting, Japanese Style Kneel Sitting, and Korean Style Cross-Legged Sitting.

BACKGROUND: Several previous studies reported on the impact of upright standing and chair sitting on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. However, there are no studies on the impact of the two Asian (Korean and Japanese) style floor-sitting positions on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of four different body postures (standing, chair sitting, kneel sitting, and cross-legged sitting) on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. METHODS: Sixteen selected healthy volunteers (10 males and six females) were subjects of this pilot study. In all subjects, radiographs were taken in comfortable standing and sitting positions. All spinal curvatures including lumbar lordotic angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI) were measured on the radiographs. RESULTS: In standing position, the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 37.1°, 35.3°, 15.7°, and 51.0°, respectively. In chair sitting, the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 17.9°, 20.3°, 28.2°, and 49.5°, respectively. In kneel sitting (Japanese style), the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 31.8°, 38.3°, 14.2°, and 52.5°, respectively. In cross-legged sitting (Korean style), the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 9.8°, 13.4°, 38.3°, and 51.7°, respectively. LLA in standing (37.1°) and kneel sitting (31.8°) were very similar. Remarkable reduction in LLA was observed in Korean-style cross-legged sitting (9.8°), and LLA in chair sitting (17.9°) was about half of that in standing. SS was similar in standing (35.3°) and kneel sitting (38.3°), and it was reduced remarkably in cross-legged sitting (13.4°). PT was largest in cross-legged sitting (38.3°), and it was similar between standing (15.7°) and kneel sitting (14.2°). PIs were similar in all positions. CONCLUSIONS: The kneel sitting position did not show significant differences with the standing position when assessed using four parameters related to the sagittal spinopelvic alignment, whereas chair sitting and cross-legged sitting positions significantly altered the spinopelvic alignment compared to the standing position.

pH-sensitive tangeretin-ZnO quantum dots exert apoptotic and anti-metastatic effects in metastatic lung cancer cell line.

Most cancer patients die as a consequence of distant metastases, which are frequently unresponsive to cancer therapy. This study focuses on the anti-tumorigenic and anti-metastatic properties of tangeretin-zinc oxide quantum dots (Tan-ZnO QDs) against the NCI-H358 cell line. Tan-ZnO QDs are pH-sensitive and capitalize on the acidic pH maintained in the tumor microenvironment; therefore, targeted drug delivery is directed specifically to cancer cells, leaving the normal cells less affected. Tan was loaded into synthesized ZnO QDs, and drug loading was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometry. Crystalline phase and particle size were measured using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Drug release was evaluated in buffered solutions with differing pH for up to 15 h. The results confirmed stable drug release (80%) in an acidic pH. Tan-ZnO QDs induced significant cytotoxicity in NCI-H358 metastatic cells, while not markedly affecting HK-2 human normal cells. Morphology of treated H358 cells analyzed via atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed an increased surface roughness and pores. Further, the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells increased after treatment with Tan-ZnO QDs. DNA fragmentation was also induced after treatment with increasing concentrations of Tan-ZnO QDs in H358 cells. We also confirmed regulation of apoptosis via expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins; G2/M phase cell cycle arrest was observed. Additionally, cell proliferation and migration drastically decreased, and cell invasion and migration, hallmarks of metastasis, were significantly inhibited in H358 cells. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9, markers of metastasis, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a marker of angiogenesis, were significantly downregulated upon treatment with Tan-ZnO QDs. In conclusion, our novel formulation destabilized H358 cells by using its acidic tumor microenvironment, thereby regulating cell apoptosis, proliferation, and metastatic properties.

Copper molybdenum sulfide anchored nickel foam: a high performance, binder-free, negative electrode for supercapacitors.

Herein, we are demonstrating the use of a binder-free electrode based on copper-molybdenum-sulfide nanostructures grown on nickel foam (CMS/Ni) as a novel negative electrode for supercapacitors. The cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge analyses reveal the pseudocapacitive nature of the CMS/Ni electrode with a high specific capacity of 633 mAh g-1 (∼20-fold higher than the binder-based CMS electrode) which is mainly due to their superior electronic conductivity and short ion transport pathways. Furthermore, the fabricated symmetric supercapacitor using the CMS/Ni electrode delivered a high device capacitance (265.62 F g-1), high energy density (23.61 Wh kg-1) and long cycle-life. The results ensure that the CMS/Ni binder-free electrode will be a promising negative electrode for high-performance supercapacitors.

A randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre, Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GV1001 in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three dosing schemes of GV1001 in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients were men aged ≥50 years, with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of ≥13, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax ) of 5-15 mL/s, post-void residual urine volume (PVR) of ≤200 mL, and prostate volume of ≥30 mL. After a 4 week run-in period, patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment schedules: Group 1, GV1001 0.4 mg, 2-week interval; Group 2, GV1001 0.56 mg, 2-week interval; Group 3, GV1001 0.56 mg, 4-week interval) or placebo (Group 4). The eligible patients were administered GV1001 or placebo, for a total of seven intradermal injections that were administered at 2-week intervals at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Treatment continued for 12 weeks, and efficacy was evaluated at weeks 4, 8, 12, 13, and 16. Safety was evaluated throughout the 16-week period. The primary efficacy variable was change from baseline (CFB) in total IPSS. Secondary endpoints were CFB in Qmax , PVR, prostate volume, International Index of Erectile Function score, plasma testosterone level, dihydrotestosterone level, and prostate-specific antigen level. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients were included (Group 1, n = 41; Groups 2-4, n = 40). Most patients (88.8%) received all planned doses of the study treatment. At week 13, a statistically significant difference in the mean CFB in IPSS was seen in GV1001 treatment Groups 1 and 2 vs the control group for the full analysis population (-3.5 [control] vs -7.2 and -6.8 in Groups 1 and 2, respectively; both P < 0.05). There were also statistically significant differences in CFB at weeks 8, 12, 13, and 16 in treatment Groups 1 and 2 vs control in the per-protocol population. There was a statistically significant reduction in prostate gland volume at week 16 vs control in all treatment groups (0.8 [control] vs -4.6, -2.5, and -4.2 mL in Groups 1-3, respectively; all P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences found in other secondary outcome measures. Adverse event (AE) reporting was similar across all four groups. No treatment-emergent AEs were considered to be related to the study drug. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that GV1001 was effective and well tolerated, and may provide potential beneficial effects in patients with BPH. Compared with medical therapies that require daily dosing, the convenient dosing regimen of GV1001 may provide greater patient adherence. Further investigation of these observations will require large-scale clinical evaluation.

Prevalence of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis Diagnosed by Whole Spine Computed Tomography: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is characterized by ossification of the enthesis. The diagnosis has been mainly based on the chest or whole spine lateral plain film. Recently, chest or thoracolumbar computed tomography (CT) has been reported to be more reliable for the diagnosis of DISH. The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence and location of DISH and evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities, such as ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF), using whole spine CT. METHODS: Whole spine CT scans of patients over 16 years of age who were examined at Cheju Halla General Hospital between February 2011 and December 2016 were reviewed for this study. The diagnosis of DISH was made according to the modified Resnick criteria. The prevalence of DISH in each age decade and its location were evaluated. Also, the prevalence of OPLL and OLF in DISH patients was investigated. RESULTS: The overall incidence of DISH was 24.4% (40 of 164 cases). There was no case of DISH in patients in their 40s and younger. The percentile incidences of DISH in patients in their fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth decades were 20.0% (4 of 20 cases), 32.3% (10 of 31 cases), 40.0% (10 of 25 cases), 34.5% (10 of 29 cases), and 27.3% (6 of 22 cases), respectively. A strong positive correlation between the age decade and the incidence of DISH was noted (r = 0.853, p = 0.007). DISH patients had higher incidences of OLF (22.5%) and OPLL (37.5%). The most common location of DISH was the middle thoracic spine (90.0%) followed by the lower thoracic spine (87.5%). There was one case of DISH involving only the cervical spine. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of DISH diagnosed by CT was higher than we expected. Whole spine CT can be a valuable modality to evaluate the location of DISH in the cervical and lumbar spine and the comorbidity rates of OLF and OPLL.

Direct detection of cysteine using functionalized BaTiO3 nanoparticles film based self-powered biosensor.

Simple, novel, and direct detection of clinically important biomolecules have continuous demand among scientific community as well as in market. Here, we report the first direct detection and facile fabrication of a cysteine-responsive, film-based, self-powered device. NH2 functionalized BaTiO3 nanoparticles (BT-NH2 NPs) suspended in a three-dimensional matrix of an agarose (Ag) film, were used for cysteine detection. BaTiO3 nanoparticles (BT NPs) semiconducting as well as piezoelectric properties were harnessed in this study. The changes in surface charge properties of the film with respect to cysteine concentrations were determined using a current-voltage (I-V) technique. The current response increased with cysteine concentration (linear concentration range=10µM-1mM). Based on the properties of the composite (BT/Ag), we created a self-powered cysteine sensor in which the output voltage from a piezoelectric nanogenerator was used to drive the sensor. The potential drop across the sensor was measured as a function of cysteine concentrations. Real-time analysis of sensor performance was carried out on urine samples by non-invasive method. This novel sensor demonstrated good selectivity, linear concentration range and detection limit of 10µM; acceptable for routine analysis.

Inhibitory Effect of Zinc Sulfide Nanoparticles Towards Breast Cancer Stem Cell Migration and Invasion.

Cancer stem cells are demonstrated to be a highly malignant cancer with an extremely high migratory ability and conventional therapies have little effect on preventing cancer migration and invasion. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles towards the migration and invasion of breast cancer stem cells MCF-7-SC. The cytotoxicity studies and the Hoechst staining experiments suggested that there is no obvious toxicity of ZnS has been observed upto a concentration of 400 µg/mL. ZnS nanoparticles significantly inhibited the wound healing in the MCF-7-SC cells. The cell invasion assay and western blot analysis results suggested that ZnS nanoparticles inhibited the metastasis of MCF-7-SCs in dose-dependent manner by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Overall, our experimental analysis suggested that nano ZnS has the ability to inhibit cancer stem cell migration and invasion, which can open up new insights in the cancer therapy.

Toxicity of nano molybdenum trioxide toward invasive breast cancer cells.

Current chemotherapy is limited by the nature of invasive cancer cells, which are similar to cancer stem cells. Nanomaterials provide a potential alternate mode of cancer therapy. This study investigated the cytotoxicity of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanoplates toward invasive breast cancer iMCF-7 cells by analyzing morphological changes and performing Western blot and flow cytometry analyses. The findings suggested that MoO3 exposure induces apoptosis and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in iMCF-7 cells. This study revealed the potential utility of MoO3 for treating metastatic cancer cells, which might enable advancements in cancer therapy.

Enhanced photodynamic efficacy and efficient delivery of Rose Bengal using nanostructured poly(amidoamine) dendrimers: potential application in photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment methodology whereby diseased cells and tissues are destroyed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) by using a combination of light and photosensitizers (PS). The medical application of Rose Bengal (RB), photosensitizer with very good ROS generation capability, is limited due to its intrinsic toxicity and insufficient lipophilicity. In this report, we evaluate the potential of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers in delivering RB and its phototoxic efficiency towards a model cancer cell line. The spherical, nanoscaled dendrimers could efficiently encapsulate RB and showed characteristic spectral responses. The controlled release property of dendrimer-RB formulation was clearly evident from the in vitro drug release study. ROS generation was confirmed in dendrimer-RB system upon white light illumination. Photosensitization of Dalton's Lymphoma Ascite (DLA) cells incubated with dendrimer-RB formulation caused remarkable photocytotoxicity. Importantly, the use of dendrimer-based delivery system reduced the dark toxicity of RB.

A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Penicillium species in a home environment.

We report a case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a 30-yr-old female housewife caused by Penicillium species found in her home environment. The patient was diagnosed according to history, chest radiograph, spirometry, high-resolution chest CT, and transbronchial lung biopsy. To identify the causative agent, cultured aeromolds were collected by the open-plate method. From the main fungi cultured, fungal antigens were prepared, and immunoblot analysis with the patient's serum and each fungal antigen was performed. A fungal colonies were isolated from the patient's home. Immunoblotting analysis with the patient's sera demonstrated a IgG-binding fractions to Penicillium species extract, while binding was not noted with control subject. This study indicates that the patient had hypersensitivity pneumonitis on exposure to Penicillium species in her home environment.