Targeting tumor associated macrophages: The new challenge for nanomedicine

The engineering of new nanomedicines with ability to target and kill or re-educate Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs) stands up as a promising strategy to induce the effective switching of the tumor-promoting immune suppressive microenvironment, characteristic of tumors rich in macrophages, to one that kills tumor cells, is anti-angiogenic and promotes adaptive immune responses. Alternatively, the loading of monocytes/macrophages in blood circulation with nanomedicines, may be used to profit from the high infiltration ability of myeloid cells and to allow the drug release in the bulk of the tumor. In addition, the development of TAM-targeted imaging nanostructures, can be used to study the macrophage content in solid tumors and, hence, for a better diagnosis and prognosis of cancer disease. The major challenges for the effective targeting of TAM with nanomedicines and their application in the clinic have already been identified. These challenges are associated to the undesirable clearance of nanomedicines by, the mononuclear phagocyte system (macrophages) in competing organs (liver, lung or spleen), upon their intravenous injection; and also to the difficult penetration of nanomedicines across solid tumors due to the abnormal vasculature and the excessive extracellular matrix present in stromal tumors. In this review we describe the recent nanotechnology-base strategies that have been developed to target macrophages in tumors.     

A comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental health and safety implications of engineered nanomaterials

Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are a growing aspect of the global economy, and their safe and sustainable development, use, and eventual disposal requires the capability to forecast and avoid potential problems. This review provides a framework to evaluate the health and safety implications of ENM releases into the environment, including purposeful releases such as for antimicrobial sprays or nano-enabled pesticides, and inadvertent releases as a consequence of other intended applications. Considerations encompass product life cycles, environmental media, exposed populations, and possible adverse outcomes. This framework is presented as a series of compartmental flow diagrams that serve as a basis to help derive future quantitative predictive models, guide research, and support development of tools for making risk-based decisions. After use, ENM are not expected to remain in their original form due to reactivity and/or propensity for hetero-agglomeration in environmental media. Therefore, emphasis is placed on characterizing ENM as they occur in environmental or biological matrices. In addition, predicting the activity of ENM in the environment is difficult due to the multiple dynamic interactions between the physical/chemical aspects of ENM and similarly complex environmental conditions. Others have proposed the use of simple predictive functional assays as an intermediate step to address the challenge of using physical/chemical properties to predict environmental fate and behavior of ENM. The nodes and interactions of the framework presented here reflect phase transitions that could be targets for development of such assays to estimate kinetic reaction rates and simplify model predictions. Application, refinement, and demonstration of this framework, along with an associated knowledgebase that includes targeted functional assay data, will allow better de novo predictions of potential exposures and adverse outcomes.     

Association between the use of magnesium sulfate as neuroprotector in prematurity and the neonatal hemodynamic effects

Purpose: Cerebral palsy is often associated with prematurity and magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) has been used as a neuroprotector, with favorable results. However, its mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between MgSO₄ at the imminent premature delivery and neonatal hemodynamic effects.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study involving 94 newborns (NB) between 24 and 32?weeks at a Brazilian hospital was performed. Bivariate analysis between the use or the non-use of MgSO₄ and hemodynamic characteristics was performed, using the Chi-square test.

Results: NB were evaluated between those who received MgSO₄ (27.7) and those who did not (72.3%). Normal heart rate was verified in 62.8% of NB, normal respiratory rate in 70.2%, and normal temperature in 22.3%. Oxygen saturation higher or equal than 95% was evidenced in 85.1% of NB, normal hemoglucotest in 74.5%, and hemoglobin greater or equal than 16.4?g/dL in 30.9%. Non-invasive ventilation was performed in 48.9% of NB, while 51.1% were submitted to endotracheal ventilation. There was no significance relation detected between the use of MgSO₄ and the hemodynamic characteristics.

Conclusions: MgSO₄ does not appear to influence hemodynamic factors as a cause of the neuroprotection in premature NB.     

青海妊娠特异性皮肤病95例围生期转归临床分析

目的观察妊娠特异性皮肤病(SDP)患者围生期的转归情况。方法对2010年1月—2013年4月在我院皮肤科及妇产科就诊的SDP患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果 SDP组男婴52例,女婴38例。新生儿平均体质量(3.22±0.06)kg,孕妇剖宫产率52.63%,妊娠并发症的总发生率为31.58%,新生儿总的不良围生转归发生率为22.11%,与非SDP围生孕妇对比有统计学意义。结论青海地区SDP患者胎儿平均体质量高,妊娠并发症多,不良的围生结局发生较多,需要进一步增加SDP中少见的临床亚型样本含量进行观察。     

104例凶险型前置胎盘患者行腹主动脉球囊阻断术对妊娠结局和生育功能的影响

目的:探究腹主动脉球囊阻断术对凶险型前置胎盘患者的妊娠结局和生育功能的影响。方法:选取2014年1月至2016年7月在我院行腹主动脉球囊阻断术的凶险型前置胎盘患者104例作为观察组,并且同时选取同期未行腹主动脉球囊阻断术的87例凶险型前置胎盘患者作为对照组,记录和比较两组患者的手术出血量、输血量、手术时间、胎盘植入类型、切除子宫情况、新生儿体重、新生儿Apgar评分、新生儿、术后感染情况。结果:观察组的年龄、孕周、孕次、产次、既往剖宫产、新生儿体重、胎盘植入类型与对照组的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。而观察组的手术出血量为(1283.5±235.4)mL,少于对照组的(2883.9±441.4)mL,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组的输血量(832.4±184.0)mL也少于对照组的(1548.3±204.8)mL,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两者的子宫切除率比较显示,观察组的患者的子宫切除率为20.2%低于对照组的32.2%(P0.05)。观察组手术的感染率为16.4%低于对照组的32.2%(P0.05)。出生结局比较显示,观察组的新生儿的Apgar评分(7.8±1.1)分高于对照组的(7.0±0.9)分(P0.05);而观察组新生儿的畸形率7.7%与对照组的6.9%的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:腹主动脉球囊阻断术能有效的减少凶险型前置胎盘患者的手术出血量以及输血量,减少子宫切除情况的发生,对胎儿辐射属安全范围。     

剖宫产分娩医疗费用的分析

目的分析单病种剖宫产医疗费用,探讨降低医疗费用的对策。方法利用2005年-2009年单病种住院医疗费用的统计报表,对住院病人的医疗费用增长情况进行统计学分析。结果剖宫产医疗费用呈上升趋势,药品费用及检查治疗费用增长是主要原因。结论降低剖宫产比率,减少医疗费用,节省医疗资源;为医疗体制的改革提供参考。     

Education is associated with reduction in racial disparities in kidney transplant outcome

In this study, we hypothesized that higher level of education might be associated with reduced racial disparities in renal transplantation outcomes. We used data from the United States Renal Data System (September 1, 1990–September 1, 2007) (n = 79 223) and analyzed two outcomes, graft loss and recipient mortality, using Cox models. Compared with whites, African Americans had increased risk of graft failure (HR, 1.48; p < 0.001) and recipient mortality (HR, 1.06; p = 0.004). Compared with recipients who graduated from college, all other education groups had inferior graft survival. Specifically, compared with college‐graduated individuals, African Americans who never finished high school had the highest risk of graft failure (HR, 1.45; p < 0.001), followed by high school graduates (HR, 1.27; p < 0.001) and those with some college education (HR, 1.18; p < 0.001). A similar trend was observed in whites. In African Americans (compared with whites), the highest risk of graft failure was associated with individuals who did not complete high school (HR, 1.96; p < 0.001) followed by high school graduates (HR, 1.47; p < 0.001), individuals with some college education (HR, 1.45; p < 0.001), and college graduates (HR, 1.39; p < 0.001). A similar trend was observed with recipient mortality. In sum, higher education was associated with reduced racial disparities in graft and recipient survival.     

Hepatic resection for colorectal metastases: the impact of surgical margin status on outcome

An R0 margin width of 1 cm has traditionally been considered a prerequisite to minimize local recurrence and optimize survival following hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer. However, recent data have called into question the prognostic importance of the ‘1-cm rule’. Specifically, several studies have noted that, although an R0 resection is important, the actual margin width may not be as critical. We provide a brief overview of the impact of an R1 vs. an R0 resection on local recurrence and overall survival. In addition, we specifically review the impact of margin width in patients who have undergone an R0 resection. Finally, we highlight those factors most associated with an increased likelihood of an R1 resection and provide recommendations for avoiding and dealing with microscopic carcinoma discovered intraoperatively at the cut parenchymal transection margin.