Diabetic foot ulcers: A devastating complication of diabetes mellitus continues non-stop in spite of new medical treatment modalities

Diabetic foot ulcer is a devastating complication of diabetes mellitus and significant cause of mortality and morbidity all over the world and can be complex and costly. The development of foot ulcer in a diabetic patient has been estimated to be 19%-34% through their lifetime. The pathophysiology of diabetic foot ulcer consist of neuropathy, trauma and, in many patients, additional peripheral arterial disease. In particular, diabetic neuropathy leads to foot deformity, callus formation, and insensitivity to trauma or pressure. The standard algorithms in diabetic foot ulcer management include assessing the ulcer grade classification, surgical debridement, dressing to facilitate wound healing, off-loading, vascular assessment (status and presence of a chance for interventional vascular correction), and infection and glycemic control. Although especially surgical procedures are sometimes inevitable, they are poor predictive factors for the prognosis of diabetic foot ulcer. Different novel treatment modalities such as nonsurgical debridement agents, oxygen therapies, and negative pressure wound therapy, topical drugs, cellular bioproducts, human growth factors, energy-based therapies, and systematic therapies have been available for patients with diabetic foot ulcer. However, it is uncertain whether they are effective in terms of promoting wound healing related with a limited number of randomized controlled trials. This review aims at evaluating diabetic foot ulcer with regard to all aspects. We will also focus on conventional and novel adjunctive therapy in diabetic foot management.     

Curcumin Encapsulated into Biocompatible Co-Polymer PLGA Nanoparticle Enhanced Anti-Gastric Cancer and Anti-Helicobacter Pylori Effect

Background: The current disadvantages (high cost, toxicity, resistance) of chemotherapy for gastric cancer opted people for alternative therapy from natural source. Curcumin (natural product) possess multiple biological activities but low bio-availability limits their uses as therapeutic. The Nano-formulation of curcumin increased the bioavailability and productivity of anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties. The present study was initiated to determine the anti-cancer and anti-bacterial effect of Nano curcumin against gastric cancer and H. pylori. Methods: Curcumin loaded PLGA nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) was prepared by single emulsion solvent evaporation method. The MIC were determined using agar dilution method to find the anti-H. Pylori activity of Nano curcumin. The cytotoxicity of Nano curcumin was evaluated by MTT assay and the apoptotic effect (cell cycle arrest and morphology change) was shown by PI staining and microscopy. Results: The MIC of nanocurcumin and curcumin for all four H. pylori strains were 8 µg/ml and 16 µg/ml respectively. The inhibition rate of gastric cancer cells after treatment with curcumin was increased from 6% to 67% for 24h, from 8% to 75% for 48h, from 10% to 83% for 72h. In case of nanocurcumin, the inhibition rate increased from 7% to 69% for 24h, 11% to 87% for 48h and 16% to 97% for 72h. The IC50 of curcumin and Nano-curcumin were 24.20 µM and 18.78 µM respectively for 72 h. The population of cells in sub-G0 population increased from 4.1% in the control group to 24.5% and 57.8% when treated with curcumin and nanocurcumin respectively. After 72h of treatment with nanocurcumin, the apoptotic cells population increased as compared to native curcumin treated cells. Conclusion: The Nano curcumin might be used as a potential therapeutics against gastric cancer and H. Pylori. There is need of further in vivo study in order to validate CUR-NPs activity.     

Analysis of the correlation between P27 expression and Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric cancer

We aimed to explore the correlation between P27 expression and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in gastric cancer, so as to provide evidence for understanding the pathogenesis of gastric cancer caused by H. pylori infection. A total of 82 samples of gastric cancer tissues and 56 samples of tumor-adjacent normal tissues collected from the gastrectomy were enrolled in this study. Then, 14C-urease breathing test was carried out to evaluate the infection of H. pylori in gastric cancer tissues, the expression of P27 in the tissue samples was detected by the immunohistochemistry staining, and the correlation between the H. pylori infection and P27 expression in gastric cancer was analyzed. Of 82 gastric cancer patients, there were 53 patients with H. pylori infection (64.63%). Among the patients with highly or moderately differentiated gastric cancer, the expression of P27 was much higher than that of patients with poorly differentiated gastric cancer (p < 0.01). Besides, comparison of the P27 expression between males and females, among different age groups, tumor sizes, TNM stages, tumor infiltration degrees, or lymph node metastasis, showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Analysis of the correlation revealed that P27 expression was negatively correlated with the infection of H. pylori (p < 0.01). Multifactorial logistics regression analysis indicated that tumor differentiation was a risk factor of P27-positive expression in gastric cancer tissues (p < 0.01). In addition, P27 expression in the gastric cancer tissues was lower than that in the tumor-adjacent normal tissues (p < 0.01). In gastric cancer patients, expression of P27 is correlated with H. pylori infection which, via downregulating P27, can cause the cancerization of gastric mucosa, and P27, for its role in the development and progression of gastric cancer, is a potential auxiliary indicator for clinical diagnosis whether gastric cancer is complicated with H. pylori infection. So, P27 is a key indicator for diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of disease in the advanced stage.     

Paradox of complex diversity: Challenges in the diagnosis and management of bacterial keratitis

Bacterial keratitis continues to be one of the leading causes of corneal blindness in the developed as well as the developing world, despite swift progress since the dawn of the “anti-biotic era”. Although, we have expeditiously developed our understanding about the different causative organisms and associated pathology leading to keratitis, extensive gaps in knowledge continue to dampen the efforts required for early and accurate diagnosis, and management in these patients, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. The ability of the causative bacteria to subdue the therapeutic challenge stems from their large genome encoding complex regulatory networks, variety of unique virulence factors, and rapid secretion of tissue damaging proteases and toxins.In this review article, we provide an overview of the established diagnostic techniques and therapeutics for keratitis caused by various bacteria. We extensively report the recent in-roads through novel tools for accurately diagnosing mono- and poly-bacterial corneal infections. Furthermore, we outline the recent progress by our groups and others in understanding the sub-cellular genomic changes that lead to antibiotic resistance in these organisms. Finally, we discuss in detail, the novel therapies and drug delivery systems in development for the efficacious management of bacterial keratitis.     

Postoperative mortality and morbidity after D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer:A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Surgery for gastric cancer is a complex procedure and lymphadenectomy is often mandatory.Postoperative mortality and morbidity after curative gastric cancer surgery is not insignificant.AIM To evaluate the factors determining mortality and morbidity in a population of patients undergoing R0 resection and D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer.METHODS A retrospective analysis of clinical data and pathological characteristics(age,sex,primary site of the tumor,Lauren histotype,number of positive lymph nodes resected,number of negative lymph nodes resected,and depth of invasion as defined by the standard nomenclature)was conducted in patients with gastric cancer.For each patient we calculated the Kattan’s score.We arbitrarily divided the study population of patients into two groups based on the nomogram score(<100 points or≥100 points).Prespecified subgroups in these analyses were defined according to age(≤65 years or>65 years),and number of lymph nodes retrieved(≤35 lymph nodes or>35 lymph nodes).Uni-and multivariate analysis of clinical and pathological findings were performed to identify the factors affecting postoperative mortality and morbidity.RESULTS One-hundred and eighty-six patients underwent a curative R0 resection with D2 lymphadenectomy.Perioperative mortality rate was 3.8%(7 patients);a higher mortality rate was observed in patients aged>65 years(P=0.002)and in N+patients(P=0.04).Following univariate analysis,mortality was related to a Kattan’s score≥100 points(P=0.04)and the presence of advanced gastric cancer(P=0.03).Morbidity rate was 21.0%(40 patients).Surgical complications were observed in 17 patients(9.1%).A higher incidence of morbidity was observed in patients where more than 35 lymph nodes were harvested(P=0.0005).CONCLUSION Mortality and morbidity rate are higher in N+and advanced gastric cancer patients.The removal of more than 35 lymph nodes does not lead to an increase in mortality.