Anticancer Activity of Novel NF-kB Inhibitor DHMEQ by Intraperitoneal Administration

There have been great advances in the therapy of cancer and leukemia. However, there are still many neoplastic diseases that are difficult to treat. For example, it is often difficult to find effective therapies for aggressive cancer and leukemia. An NF- B inhibitor named dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) was discovered in 2000. This compound was designed based on the structure of epoxyquinomicin isolated from a microorganism. It was shown to be a specific inhibitor that directly binds to and inactivates NF- B components. Until now, DHMEQ has been used by many scientists in the world to suppress animal models of cancer and inflammation. Especially, it was shown to suppress difficult cancer models, such as hormone-insensitive breast cancer and prostate cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and multiple myeloma. No toxicity has been reported so far. DHMEQ was administered via the intraperitoneal (IP) route in most of the animal experiments because of its simplicity. In the course of developmental studies, it was found that IP administration never increased the blood concentration of DHMEQ because of the instability of DHMEQ in the blood. It is suggested that inflammatory cells in the peritoneal cavity would be important for cancer progression, and that IP administration, itself, is important for the effectiveness and safety of DHMEQ. In the present review, we describe mechanism of action, its in vivo anticancer activity, and future clinical use of DHMEQ IP therapy.     

Copeptin concentration following cardiac surgery as a prognostic marker of postoperative acute kidney injury: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundCopeptin, the C-terminal portion of the arginine vasopressin precursor, is a novel candidate biomarker. This study investigated the prognostic value of copeptin levels following cardiac surgery for the occurrence of postoperative acute kidney injury.MethodsWe studied 23 patients who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2018 and December 2019. The primary endpoint was postoperative acute kidney injury onset. Copeptin levels were measured before, right after, and daily for 7 days. The patients were divided into two groups according to the copeptin levels: low (values <43.7 pmol/L) and high (values ≥43.7 pmol/L). Correlations between copeptin levels and variables, such as central venous pressure, were assessed by bivariate analysis.ResultsThe high copeptin group exhibited significantly higher levels of arginine vasopressin and cortisol following surgery, compared to those of the low copeptin group. The copeptin concentration following surgery was correlated to central venous pressure (P=0.03) and norepinephrine administered dose (P=0.008). Also, the copeptin levels right after surgery robustly predicted the onset of postoperative acute kidney injury (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.83, P=0.004).ConclusionsElevated copeptin levels in patients following cardiac surgery predicted postoperative acute kidney injury development. Therefore, the copeptin concentration after surgery could represent a promising clinical biomarker of the postoperative cardiac outcome.     

Patients agressés en milieu psychiatrique : revue de la littérature et implications cliniques

Background

The psychiatric ward is a place where all forms of violence are treated. Occasionally, this violence involves acts of aggression between patients in emergency psychiatric units or hospital wards. Such events can lead to the development or worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Seal ＆ Protect封闭剂治疗牙本质过敏症的疗效评价

目的 观察Seal＆Protect封闭剂治疗牙本质过敏症的作用,通过扫描电镜观察Seal＆Protect封闭人离体牙牙本质小管的效果。方法 牙本质过敏患牙180颗,实验组90颗,用Seal＆Protect治疗,对照组90颗用30％草酸钾治疗。取离体牙30颗,于颈部制备洞型,分3组(第1组涂布Seal＆Protect,第2组涂布30％草酸钾,第3组未经任何处理作空白对照)扫描电镜观察表面形态。结果 实验组治疗后的即刻疼痛缓解有效率100％,3个月复查有效率97.78％,而用30％草酸钾即刻疼痛缓解有效率为96.67％,3个月复查有效率87.78％,两者有显著差异(P<0.05)。SEM观察显示经Seal＆Protect和草酸钾处理,大部分牙本质小管被封闭。结论 Seal＆Protect能有效地封闭牙本质小管,是一种有效的治疗牙本质过敏症的脱敏剂。     

External wire-frame fixation of digital skin grafts: A non-invasive alternative to the K-wire insertion method

Background and Aim

The current skin graft fixation methods for digits, including the Kirschner wire insertion technique, can be limited by inadequate or excessive fixation and complications such as infection or secondary injuries. Therefore, the external wire-frame fixation method was invented and used for skin grafting of digits. This study aimed to investigate external wire-frame fixation of digital skin grafts as a non-invasive alternative to the K-wire insertion method.

Methods

In 2005–2012, 15 patients with burn scar contractures on the hand digits received a skin graft that was then fixed with an external wire frame. The intra-operative time needed to make the wire frame, the postoperative time to frame and suture removal, the graft survival rate, the effect of contracture release and the complications were recorded.

Results

In all cases, the contracture release was 100%. The complete graft survival rate was 98.6%. Four patients had epithelial necrosis in <5% of the total area. There were no other complications such as pressure ulcer or hypoxia of fingers.

Conclusions

External wire-frame fixation is simple, minimally invasive and a custom-made technique for skin grafting of the fingers. It was designed for its potential benefits and the decreased risk it poses to patients with scar contractures on their fingers. It can be implemented in three phases of grafting, does not affect the epiphyseal line or subsequent finger growth and is suitable for children with multi-digit involvement.