Self-assembled polymeric chelate nanoparticles as potential theranostic agents.

Improvements in cancer diagnostics and therapy have recently attracted the interest of many different branches of science. This study presents one of the new possible approaches in the diagnostics and therapy of cancer by using polymeric chelates as carriers. Graft copolymers with a backbone containing 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid chelating groups and poly(ethylene oxide) hydrophilic grafts are synthesized and characterized. The polymers assemble and form particles after the addition of a biometal cation, such as iron or copper. The obtained nanoparticles exhibit a hydrodynamic diameter of around 25 nm and a stability of at least several hours, which are counted as essential parameters for biomedical purposes. To prove their biodegradability, a model degradation with deferoxamine is performed and, together with high radiolabeling efficiency with copper-64, their possible use for nuclear medicine purposes is demonstrated.

Comparison of three therapeutic regimens using nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Three therapeutic regimens using nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis were compared in an open long-term cross-over trials. Voltaren 100 mg suppositories or Naprosyn 500 mg suppositories were introduced every evening at bed-time, and Naprosyn tablets were administered twice in a day, in the morning and at night. Each drug was administered for one month and every patient was treated with all three drugs in succession. The individual sequence was determined by randomization. The assessment included nine objective and subjective criteria and after the termination of the trial each patient named his preferred sequence of drugs. All three drugs proved effective. The results of our investigations showed that nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs in the form of suppositories were more effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. They exerted a more beneficial effect on morning stiffness and on pain than tablets of the same drug. The treatment was most effective as late as in the third month of the therapy, regardless of the substance which was administered as the third drug. This confirmed our experience of the advantage of alternate administration of various nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs. A series of subjective and objective criteria, as well as the preference expressed by the patients spoke in favour of Voltaren suppositories, which was obviously due to the fact that Naprosyn was ineffective in about 20 per cent of the patients.

Experience with high doses of ibuprofen in the long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Ibuprofen (Brufen) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug well-established in the symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In view of its exceptionally good tolerance it has become fashionable to prescribe increasingly large doses for severe cases or in those patients unable to tolerate other anti-rheumatic compounds. This study illustrates the sustained therapeutic benefit and almost complete lack of toxicity in fify-nine rheumatoid patients treated with up to 1,600 mg ibuprofen daily over six months. Significant improvement occurred in all clinical parameters and gastro-intestinal upset leading to discontinuance of therapy was reported in just two patients. There were no abnormalities in any of the biochemical tests performed.

[Management of para-articular cysts in progressive chronic polyarthritis]. / Beitrag zur Behandlung der paraartikulären Zysten bei der progredient-chronischen Polyarthritis

Peri-articular cysts complicating rheumatoid arthritis give rise to a difficult therapeutic problem. The origin of these cysts is discussed with particular reference to Baker's cyst. In principle, treatment is identical with that used in chronic joint effusions. The authors have noted satisfactory results with a steroid-synoviorthesis using triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog, Squibb, Volon, Heyden). Best results have been achieved by injecting triamcinolone into both the cyst and the corresponding joint. The total effect of intraarticular use of this drug is discussed.

[Comparison of the effects of niflumic acid and aloxiprin in patients with progressive chronic rheumatoid arthritis in a double blind trial]. / Wirkungsvergleich zwischen Niflumsäure und Aloxiprin bei Kranken mit progredient chronischer Polyarthritis im Doppelblindversuch

The effects of niflumic acid (trifluoro-methyl-3-phenylamino-2-nicotinic acid) and of aloxiprin (aluminium acetyl-salicylate) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared in a double-blind cross-over trial. Check-up examinations prior to the institution and after the termination of the therapy, as well as after individual treatment periods of two weeks with alternating sequential administration of the two drugs, were carried out with a standardized method. The assessment included subjective (pain intensity) and objective criteria (Lansbury's index), as well as laboratory results (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, uricaemia). With the exception of the articular index disclosing a superior effect of niflumic acid, the other criteria showed no statistically significant differences between the effects of the two drugs.