Surfactant enhanced lipase containing films characterized by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) in combination with a fluorescently labeling enzyme dye, LavaPurple™, was demonstrated as a technique for the visualization of Thermomyces (Humicola) lanuginosa lipase (LIP(HLL)) and Candida antarctica lipase A (LIP(CA)) within a transparent latex coating. Addition of Teric Surfactants (C(16) non-ionic Teric 475, 1.8% (w/w) or C(10) non-ionic Teric 460, 2.0% (w/w)) significantly increased the accumulation of both LIP(HLL) and LIP(CA) to the surface of a latex coating. An α-naphthyl acetate substrate assay was used to quantify the accumulated lipase. The results derived from the acetate assay correlated with the enzyme accumulation (at the surface) observed in the CLSM images of the latex coating. This correlation demonstrated that the increased enzyme accumulation within the top 2µm of the latex film was responsible for the increase in surface enzymatic activity. The combination of CLSM imagery and quantifiable image analysis provided a valuable tool for the optimization of surfactant concentrations for maximizing the activity of an enzyme (and potentially other additives) within a latex coating.

Radiation therapy and sorafenib: clinical data and rationale for the combination in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Sorafenib, an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase, increases progression-free survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) compared with placebo. The efficacy and toxicity of combined sorafenib and radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of RCC are unknown. This is a retrospective report of 3 consecutive patients with metastatic or locally recurrent RCC treated with palliative RT while undergoing sorafenib therapy. All 3 patients experienced disease progression on sorafenib and remained on the drug without dose reduction during the RT plus sorafenib regimen. They were followed for toxicity and response by clinical history, physical examination, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans. Soon after completion of palliative RT, all 3 patients experienced complete pain relief without the need for narcotic pain medication. Posttreatment imaging revealed partial response with > 50% regression of tumor in all patients. None reported significant acute or late side effects at follow-up of 3, 6, and 8 months after RT and sorafenib. In the 3 patients with recurrent or metastatic RCC in this report, the combination of RT and sorafenib was well tolerated and resulted in excellent clinical and radiologic responses. This combination is promising and requires further study.