Mixed micelles of lipoic acid-chitosan-poly(ethylene glycol) and distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol) for tumor delivery.

Many chemotherapeutics suffer from poor aqueous solubility and tissue selectivity. Distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol) (DSPE-PEG) micelles are a promising formulation strategy for the delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs. However, storage and in vivo instability restrict their use. The aim of this study was to prepare mixed micelles, containing a novel polymer, lipoic acid-chitosan-poly(ethylene glycol) (LACPEG), and DSPE-PEG, to overcome these limitations and potentially increase cancer cell internalisation. Drug-loaded micelles were prepared with a model tyrosine kinase inhibitor and characterized for size, surface charge, stability, morphology, drug entrapment efficiency, cell viability (A549 and PC-9 cell lines), in vivo biodistribution, ex vivo tumor accumulation and cellular internalisation. Micelles of size 30-130nm with entrapment efficiencies of 46-81% were prepared. LACPEG/DSPE-PEG mixed micelles showed greater interaction with the drug (condensing to half their size following entrapment), greater stability, and a safer profile in vitro compared to DSPE-PEG micelles. LACPEG/DSPE-PEG and DSPE-PEG micelles had similar entrapment efficiencies and in vivo tumor accumulation levels, but LACPEG/DSPE-PEG micelles showed higher tumor cell internalisation. Collectively, these findings suggest that LACPEG/DSPE-PEG mixed micelles provide a promising platform for tumor delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

The impact of Juvenile Huntington's Disease on the family: the case of a rare childhood condition.

There has been little research into the impact of Juvenile Huntington's Disease (JHD) on the family, and the issues facing this group are poorly understood. The study reported here is part of larger project that aimed to address this. Ten semi-structured interviews with the main carer were carried out, and were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). This article reports three themes arising from the study relating to the psychosocial impact of JHD on the family: (1) dealing with something so different; (2) lack of understanding (3) isolation. This information is useful in developing appropriate services for families affected by JHD, as well as being of relevance to other childhood conditions.

Caring for a child with Juvenile Huntington's Disease: helpful and unhelpful support.

There has been little research into the psychosocial impact of Juvenile Huntington's Disease on the child and family. This study investigates the social and health care needs of those affected by Juvenile Huntington's Disease. Ten semi-structured interviews with carers were analysed using the qualitative methodology interpretative phenomenological analysis. This article reports three themes on the social support that families received. The first theme describes how parents perceived the support that they received from family and friends. The second and third themes describe how parents perceived helpful and unhelpful experiences of professional support. This corresponds to the view that social support is a 'double-edged sword', which can both ameliorate the effects of, and be a source of, stress. This information should be useful to those supporting the family of a child with a chronic or terminal illness.

Managing violence in primary care: an evidence-based approach.

An understanding of the risk factors for violence can help primary care staff to evaluate and manage risk in the primary care setting. They will be able to acknowledge that risk factors are not static but can vary according to time, place, situation, and support networks. General practitioners (GPs) should not ignore their clinical acumen, but should use their knowledge of the patient to form part of a risk assessment. Managing violence in primary care should focus on the individual; for example, in the training of primary care staff. It should also involve an examination of the wider structure of primary care; for example, the safe design of buildings, avoiding long waiting times, and having 'no intoxication' policies for practices. There is a pressing need for primary care-based research in this area. We acknowledge that in our understanding of this topic there are two extremes that should be avoided. The first is that our perceived risk of violence often exceeds the real, absolute risk. Where our perceptions are overstated, patients run the risk of being excluded from primary care or of being inappropriately detained on psychiatric wards under the Mental Health Act. At the other extreme, where risk is understated, staff can play the 'hero' or the 'martyr' in an attempt to defuse a situation without support from other colleagues. Like many other situations in primary care, working in isolation carries real and important risks. Threats of violence are best managed in primary care by having a collaborative practice approach underpinned by a support ethos from primary care organisations.

Medical resources and the internet. Making the connection.

The Internet has provided a new forum through which medical information can be obtained and discussed. We review methods available to take advantage of this resource and provide a glimpse of electronically available information and discussions. These methods are useful for beginning and experienced users of the Internet.

Colorectal cancer. A practical review for the primary care physician.

Colorectal cancer is a common disease in the United States. In the past 30 years, only limited improvements in stage of disease at the time of diagnosis and survival rates have been made. Research into genetic, environmental, and diet-related risk factors is promising but insufficient to serve as a foundation for preventive advice. The slowly progressive adenoma-carcinoma sequence is now commonly accepted. The American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Ga, and the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md, advocate screening with annual fecal occult blood testing plus sigmoidoscopy every 3 to 5 years in persons 50 years old and older. The development of more cost-effective screening strategies is under study, with emphasis on targeting high-risk populations, determining optimal screening intervals, identifying the length of colon to study and by what means, and determining the surveillance needed in individuals who have had polyps removed.