153Sm-labeled Fe3O4@lapatinib nanoparticles as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer: synthesis, quality control, and in vivo evaluation.

The present study introduces Fe3O4-coated lapatinib-labeled 153Sm nanoparticles (denoted as Fe3O4@lapatinib-153Sm) as a promising avenue for advancing breast cancer treatment. The radiolabeled nanoparticles combine various attributes, offering enhanced therapeutic precision. The integration of lapatinib confers therapeutic effects and targeted delivery. The inherent magnetic characteristics of Fe3O4 nanoparticles contribute to improved imaging contrast and targeted localization. Incorporating the gamma-emitting 153Sm isotope permits single-photon emission computed tomography imaging and radiation dose evaluation, while its beta-emitting nature ensures targeted cancer cell eradication. The synthesis of Fe3O4@lapatinib-153Sm was meticulously optimized by investigating the effects of parameters on radiolabeling efficiency. Physicochemical attributes were scrutinized using several analytical techniques. In-depth in vivo assessment evaluated the biocompatibility, toxicity, and biodistribution in a murine model, illuminating clinical utility. Optimal conditions (153SmCl3 concentration of 10 mCi mL-1, pH 7.4, a reaction time of 30 min, and a temperature of 25 °C) achieved >99% labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity. The TEM analysis indicated that the diameter of Fe3O4@lapatinib-153Sm nanoparticles ranged from 10 to 40 nm. Vibrating-sample magnetometry verified their superparamagnetic behaviour with a saturation magnetization of 41.4 emu g-1. The synthesized radiopharmaceutical exhibited high sterility and in vitro stability. Acute toxicity studies showed the mild effects of Fe3O4@lapatinib-153Sm at a dose of 20 mCi kg-1, with no observed mortality. Notably, lesions from Fe3O4@lapatinib-153Sm use recovered naturally over time. Radiation doses below 20 mCi kg-1 were recommended for clinical trials. The biodistribution study in BT474 xenograft mice revealed rapid clearance of Fe3O4@lapatinib-153Sm within 48 h. Significant accumulation occurred in the liver, spleen, and tumor tissue, while minimal accumulation was found in other tissues. Future steps involve studying biocorona formation and therapeutic efficacy on tumour models, refining its clinical potential.

A Reliable Pipeline Leak Detection Method Using Acoustic Emission with Time Difference of Arrival and Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test.

This paper proposes a novel and reliable leak-detection method for pipeline systems based on acoustic emission (AE) signals. The proposed method analyzes signals from two AE sensors installed on the pipeline to detect leaks located between these two sensors. Firstly, the raw AE signals are preprocessed using empirical mode decomposition. The time difference of arrival (TDOA) is then extracted as a statistical feature of the two AE signals. The state of the pipeline (leakage/normal) is determined through comparing the statistical distribution of the TDOA of the current state with the prior normal state. Specifically, the two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test is applied to compare the statistical distribution of the TDOA feature for leak and non-leak scenarios. The K-S test statistic value in this context functions as a leakage indicator. A new criterion called leak sensitivity is introduced to evaluate and compare the performance of leak detection methods. Extensive experiments were conducted using an industrial pipeline system, and the results demonstrate the excellence of the proposed method in leak detection. Compared to traditional feature-based indicators, our approach achieves a significantly higher performance in leak detection.

Reasons for Diagnostic Delay of Foot Drop Caused by Parasagittal Meningioma: Two Case Reports.

Foot drop is defined as an impaired ability or inability of dorsiflexion. Peripheral nervous system injuries are commonly considered as the cause of this condition. The central causes including parasagittal meningioma are also described in the literature but very rarely and commonly not recognized early. In this article, we report 2 patients with isolated unilateral foot drop as the first symptom of a parasagittal meningioma and discuss several reasons for delayed diagnosis. Two patients were treated with decompressive craniotomy. The histopathological findings demonstrated a fibroblastic meningioma and a meningothelial meningioma. During postoperative follow-up, the woman patient showed nearly complete recovery and the second case regained total muscle power over a period of 12 months. The rarity of the disease, the absence of upper motor neuron signs, the occurrence of peripheral pathologies and misinterpretation of F wave on nerve conduction study, and motor unit recruitment on electromyography lead to delay in diagnosis and treatment of the central foot drop due to parasagittal meningioma.

The effect of subcutaneous injection of methylprednisolone acetate and lidocaine for refractory postherpetic neuralgia: a prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common and bearable complication of herpes zoster (HZ). This pain may have negative impact on the patient's all aspects of daily life and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Despite numerous advances in treatment, many patients remain resistant to the current therapy options. It is the first time subcutaneous injection of methylprednisolone acetate and lidocaine has been used to treat refractory PHN. We report the results of this treatment evaluating pain relief and HRQOL improvement in this disorder. METHODS: A total of 43 patients with refractory PHN was enrolled in the observational study. All patients received daily subcutaneous injection of methylprednisolone acetate and lidocaine for 10 consecutive days. The severity of pain was assessed by using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) was applied to evaluate HRQOL. Assessment of the pain and HRQOL was carried out at baseline and posttreatment at 4 weeks as well as 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: At baseline, all patients experienced severe PHN with average VAS scores of 8.44 ± 0.85 (minimum 7; maximum 10). At 4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment, the pain had significantly decreased (P < .001), and all subjects showed significant improvement in all eight domains of HRQOL. No major adverse events associated with the subcutaneous injection were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that subcutaneous injection of methylprednisolone acetate and lidocaine can be an effective and safe treatment for PHN.