Indocyanine green loaded hyaluronan-derived nanoparticles for fluorescence-enhanced surgical imaging of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is highly lethal and surgical resection is the only potential curative treatment for the disease. In this study, hyaluronic acid derived nanoparticles with physico-chemically entrapped indocyanine green, termed NanoICG, were utilized for intraoperative near infrared fluorescence detection of pancreatic cancer. NanoICG was not cytotoxic to healthy pancreatic epithelial cells and did not induce chemotaxis or phagocytosis, it accumulated significantly within the pancreas in an orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model, and demonstrated contrast-enhancement for pancreatic lesions relative to non-diseased portions of the pancreas. Fluorescence microscopy showed higher fluorescence intensity in pancreatic lesions and splenic metastases due to NanoICG compared to ICG alone. The in vivo safety profile of NanoICG, including, biochemical, hematological, and pathological analysis of NanoICG-treated healthy mice, indicates negligible toxicity. These results suggest that NanoICG is a promising contrast agent for intraoperative detection of pancreatic tumors.     

Nanoparticle Formulation of Indocyanine Green Improves Image-Guided Surgery in a Murine Model of Breast Cancer

Molecular Imaging and Biology - Negative surgical margins (NSMs) have favorable prognostic implications in breast tumor resection surgery. Fluorescence image-guided surgery (FIGS) has the ability...     

Power drills to fenestrate exposed bone to stimulate wound healing

Power drills can be used to stimulate the formation of granulation tissue over exposed cortical bone. These tools allow for the rapid fenestration and selective abrasion of large areas of exposed bone; fenestration and abrasion create the multiple bleeding points essential for the production of granulation tissue. The granulation tissue thus produced is allowed to grow out through the holes to cover bone. This procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting, usually without the need for either local or general anesthesia; it is particularly useful for patients considered to be poor risks for general anesthesia. Healing by granulation tissue is a somewhat slow process, but it has a high success rate, causes few complications, and produces very good cosmetic results. Two cases illustrate the method of fenestration of exposed cranial bone to stimulate granulation tissue. Specific instructions describe the needed care of exposed bone.     

A study of the reliability of the family history method in genetic studies of Alzheimer disease

The reliability between 2 raters conducting independent family history interviews for Alzheimer disease-like and other dementias was investigated. The interviews were conducted at least 1 year apart with the second rater blind to the data collected by the first rater. Raters agreed on the presence and type of dementia in 153 relatives age 45 or older of 30 AD probands, the age at onset in secondary cases, and the age of nonaffected relatives.     

The effects of caffeine on various body systems: a review

Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in Western society. The intake of caffeine-containing beverages in many adults and children often reaches levels that can induce pharmacological effects. Ninety-nine percent of ingested caffeine is absorbed and distributed to all tissues and organs. The effects of caffeine intake differ greatly according to acute or chronic intake, level of intake, and the development of tolerance. Caffeine administered acutely to non-users or recent abstainers can induce hypertension, arrhythmias, altered myocardial function, increased plasma catecholamine levels, plasma renin activity, serum cholesterol levels, increased production of urine, gastric acid secretion, and alterations in mood and sleep patterns. Tolerance to chronic caffeine intake develops in most individuals, with the cessation of its effects on the renal system, the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal system and, to some extent, the central nervous system. Moderate caffeine consumers probably need to have little concern for the effect of caffeine intake on their health if their other life-style habits are also moderate.     

Identification of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism with Biological Parameters

The prevalence and incidence of heavy alcohol consumption are major problems which have been increasing in many countries in recent years. It is crucial for physicians to consistently identify early drinking problems as well as the various end disease states in order to minimize suffering and maximize recovery. This paper reviews the evolutionary development of clinical tools for detection of alcohol abuse. The focus is primarily on clinical/biochemical indicators of alcohol abuse, emphasizing but not limited to changes in hematological characteristics, liver enzyme activity, lipids, immune function factors, hormones, neurological factors, and some physically based tests. Use of test combinations and sophisticated statistical analysis of pattern changes in test batteries evidence increased diagnostic efficiency.     

Differential preservation of cognitive functions in geriatric patients with lifelong chronic schizophrenia: less impairment in reading compared with other skill areas.

BACKGROUND: Our study examined the differential performance of cognitive skills in geriatric, cognitively impaired schizophrenic patients (n = 165) with a lengthy course of institutional stay and a poor overall functional outcome. Their relative deficits were compared with a sample of healthy elderly individuals. METHODS: Schizophrenic patients were matched one-to-one with healthy individuals of the same age and education and compared on a number of measures of cognitive functioning. The schizophrenic patients' old-learning performance was also compared with their educational level only. RESULTS: Mini-Mental State Examination (Folstein et al 1975) scores of the patients were in the moderately demented range (M = 20.36), and these patients underperformed healthy control subjects by more than 1 to slightly less than 3 standard deviations on measures of memory, praxis, and verbal skills. Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised word-recognition reading scores were found to be at the 10th-grade level, although the patients on average had completed 11 years of formal education. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that even in schizophrenic patients with significant cognitive impairment, reading scores are relatively consistent with educational attainment. These data indicate that poor performance on measures of cognitive functioning in this population does not necessarily occur on measures of old learning.