The Antimicrobial Potency of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Melissa officinalis Extract.

Melissa officinalis is an important medicinal plant that is used and studied intensively due to its numerous pharmacological effects. This plant has numerous active compounds with biomedical potential; some are volatile, while others are sensitive to heat or oxygen. Therefore, to increase stability and prolong biological activities, the natural extract can be loaded into various nanostructured systems. In this study, different loading systems were obtained from mesoporous silica, like Mobile Composition of Matter family (MCM) with a hexagonal (MCM-41) or cubic (MCM-48) pore structure, simple or functionalized with amino groups (using 3-aminopropyl) such as triethoxysilane (APTES). Thus, the four materials were characterized from morphological and structural points of view by scanning electron microscopy, a BET analysis with adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and a thermogravimetric analysis coupled with differential scanning calorimetry. Natural extract from Melissa officinalis was concentrated and analyzed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography to identify the polyphenolic compounds. The obtained materials were tested against Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts and against both reference strains and clinical strains belonging to Gram-positive bacteria that were previously isolated from intra-hospital infections. The highest antimicrobial efficiency was found against Gram-positive and fungal strains. Good activity was also recorded against methicillin-resistant S. aureus, the Melissa officinalis extract inhibiting the production of various virulence factors.

Fifteen-minute consultation: Is this umbilical venous catheter safe to use?

Umbilical venous catheters are widely used in neonatal practice, therefore promoting safe use of such catheters to reduce complications remains a healthcare priority. This report will equip the reader with essential knowledge for successful catheter insertion and maintenance, which is key to better outcomes. Recent advances in safe localisation of catheter tip and the development of a red flag system will enhance the clinician's ability to predict potential complications related to these catheters as they remain in situ.

A review of NTRK fusions in cancer.

The family of the neurotrophic tropomyosin kinase receptors (NTRK or TRK) is a part of the transmembrane tyrosine kinases responsible for neuronal development. The members of this receptor family are TRKA, TRKB and TRKC and they are encoded by the genes NTRK1, NTRK2 and NTRK3. Alterations of NTRK genes can induce carcinogenesis both in neurogenic and non-neurogenic cells. The prevalence of NTRK gene fusion is under 1% in solid tumors, but is highly encountered in rare tumors. The presence of NTRK 1 gene fusion is associated, in some types of neoplasia, with a favorable evolution, but the presence of NTRK 2 may be associated with a poor prognosis. The identification of cancer patients harboring NTRK gene fusions is constantly growing, especially with the advent of NTRK inhibitors. This has promisingly provided a rationale for personalized therapeutics that improved outcomes in settings with this signature.

Axillary skin metastasis of renal cell carcinoma-Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Metastatic diseases are seen in approximately 25% of all cases with renal cell carcinoma and sometimes they can appear in unusual sites. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 35-year old patient with a painful left axillary mass which causes the functional impairment of the left arm. The axillary mass appeared 2 years after the nephrectomy performed for a left renal cell carcinoma. Numerous metastases have been identified through CT scans during the postoperative evolution of the disease for which the patient underwent adjuvant therapy with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. DISCUSSIONS: Particular to our case is not just the rare metastatic site but also the fact that the tumor appeared despite the adjuvant therapy with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Unfortunately, the prognosis of metastatic RCC with skin metastasis is in most cases unfavorable. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that our case could add more information to subsequent measures, complete the frame of rare oncologic cases and consolidate the data published on the topic so far.

A Rare Cause of Bowel Obstruction: Peritoneal Metastases in Osteosarcoma at the Tibia in a Young Female Patient with Brain Metastasis. Case Report.

Osteosarcomas are the most frequent primary malignant bone tumors in children and adolescents. Like brain metastases in osteosarcomas, the bowel metastases are very rare. We present the case of a 23-year-old female patient, diagnosed and operated in 2008 of osteosarcoma at the tibia, for which she had sessions of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, but presented lungs metastases for which she underwent surgery in 2014. Then, in March 2015, she was diagnosed with an intracranial expansive process, an osteosarcoma metastasis, for which a total ablation of the tumor was performed during the early postoperatory period, being transferred to the General Surgery Clinic for abdominal pain, abdominal distention, vomiting, and lack of intestinal transit regarding faeces and intestinal gas. Both clinically and imagistically, the diagnosis was of bowel obstruction. This was the reason for performing surgery, thus discovering a bowel obstruction secondary to a metastasis of the terminal ileum and liver metastases that were confirmed as osteosarcoma metastases from an anatomopathological and immunohistochemical point of view. The bowel metastases and the osteosarcoma brain metastases are very rare entities and, their association, most often with young patients, is exceptional. However, bowel metastases must be taken into account as a possible cause of bowel obstruction in patients with osteosarcoma.

Laparoscopic management of interstitial pregnancy and fertility outcomes after ipsilateral salpingectomy - three case reports.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial pregnancy after ipsilateral salpingectomy is a rare event with potentially serious consequences. Optimal management strategy remains uncertain and debated. In addition, fertility sparing is determinant of the treatment choice. CASES: Here, we report three cases of interstitial pregnancy occurring after homolateral salpingectomy. We expose the therapeutic option held in all three situations, which associated laparoscopic procedure followed by intramuscular methotrexate injection with successful outcome for all patients. We also report the fertility outcome for the first patient, discussing the timing and mode of delivery. Cesarean section at term was performed for this patient. CONCLUSION: In these three situations, we obtained a successful result using a minimally invasive surgical approach combined with systemic methotrexate injection. Cesarean section at term for subsequent intrauterine pregnancy seems to be the safest delivery strategy, although no clear data exist in literature.