Surgical delivery of drug releasing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) paste with in vivo effects against glioblastoma

Introduction

The median survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (astrocytoma grade 4) remains less than 18 months despite radical surgery, radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy. Surgical implantation of chemotherapy eluting wafers into the resection cavity has been shown to improve length of survival but the current licensed therapy has several drawbacks. This paper investigates in vivo efficacy of a novel drug eluting paste in glioblastoma.

Methods

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA/PEG) self-sintering paste was loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide and delivered surgically into partially resected tumours in a flank murine glioblastoma xenograft model.

Results

Surgical delivery of the paste was successful and practical, with no toxicity or surgical morbidity to the animals. The paste was retained in the tumour cavity, and preliminary results suggest a useful antitumour and antiangiogenic effect, particularly at higher doses. Bioluminescent imaging was not affected significantly by the presence of the paste in the tumour.

Conclusions

Chemotherapy loaded PLGA/PEG paste seems to be a promising technology capable of delivering active drugs into partially resected tumours. The preliminary results of this study suggest efficacy with no toxicity and will lead to larger scale efficacy studies in orthotopic glioblastoma models.     

A double mobility acetabular implant for primary hip arthroplasty in patients at high risk of dislocation

IntroductionDislocation following total hip replacement continues to be a problem for which no completely satisfactory solution has been found. Several methods have been proposed to reduce the incidence of hip dislocations with varying degrees of success, including elevated rim liners, constrained liners and large diameter bearings. We present our experience with the double mobility acetabular component in patients at high risk of instability.MethodsThis was a retrospective review of 65 primary total hip arthroplasties in 55 patients (15 men, 40 women), performed between October 2005 and November 2009. The majority (80%) of patients had at least two and 26% had at least three risk factors for instability. The mean age was 76 years (range: 44–92 years). The patients were followed up for a mean duration of 60 months (range: 36–85 months).ResultsFourteen patients died and one was lost to follow-up, leaving fifty hips for final assessment. Until the final follow-up appointment, no patients had dislocation and none required revision surgery. The mean Oxford hip score improved from 45.0 to 26.5 (p<0.0001). The mean Merle d’Aubigné pain score improved from 1.4 to 4.9 (p<0.0001), the walking score from 2.3 to 3.1 (p<0.07) and the absolute hip function score from 5.4 to 10.8 (p<0.0001). There were no clinical or radiographic signs of loosening.ConclusionsThe double mobility acetabular component was successful at preventing dislocation during early to medium-term follow-up. However, as data are still lacking with regard to polyethylene wear rates at the additional bearing surface, it would be prudent to restrict the use of this implant to selected patients at high risk of instability.     

The NS5A replication complex inhibitors: difference makers?

The development and approval of direct-acting antiviral agents looks set to transform the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. Among the agents in development are novel compounds that inhibit the function of the NS5A protein: a pleiotropic protein with a complex and essential role in viral replication. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potency of these agents across a broad range of viral genotypes, and in early phase trials, they rapidly suppressed viral replication when administered as monotherapy or in combination with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. The discovery and development of NS5A replication complex inhibitors is summarized in this review.     

低氧暴露对运动性贫血大鼠抗氧化能力的影响

目的:观察低氧暴露对运动性贫血大鼠某些抗氧化酶的影响,探讨低氧条件下抗氧化系统的反应是否有利于改善运动性贫血。方法:实验于2005-07/09在广东省高等学校运动生物化学教学重点实验室完成。选择6周龄健康雄性SD大鼠40只,均为运动性贫血动物模型,大鼠适应环境1周后采用6周递增负荷跑台运动方式建立。按随机数字表法分为1h低氧暴露组、2h低氧暴露组和间歇性低氧暴露组、常氧恢复组,每组10只。采用人工常压低氧环境,低氧浓度控制在14.5%左右,按分组每天在常压低氧舱进行1,2h和间歇性低氧暴露(低氧暴露1h,中间间歇3h,再低氧暴露1h),其余时间在舱外常氧中自由活动,每周6d,持续3周。常氧恢复组大鼠在常氧中自由活动。3周后测试运动性贫血大鼠血清丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活性和血浆过氧化氢酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化酶活性。结果:纳入动物40只,均进入结果分析。①低氧暴露3周后1h低氧暴露组、2h低氧暴露组、间歇性低氧暴露组血清丙二醛含量均显著低于常氧恢复组[分别为(2.62±0.16),(2.60±0.22),(2.55±0.06),(3.36±0.34)μmol/L,P<0.05]。②低氧暴露3周后血清超氧化物歧化酶和血浆谷胱甘肽过氧化酶、过氧化氢酶活性均高于常氧恢复组,2h低氧暴露组与常氧恢复组比较差异有显著性意义[分别为(4239.68±169.53),(3190.30±339.40)μkat/L;(20622.46±2002.07),(15556.44±607.79)μkat/L;(50.01±6.67),(35.17±4.50)μkat/L,P<0.05]。③各低氧暴露组间除2h低氧暴露组血清超氧化物歧化酶活性显著高于1h低氧暴露组外[分别为(4239.68±169.53),(2126.41±161.20)μkat/L,P<0.05],其他指标组间差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。结论:低氧暴露可提高运动性贫血大鼠机体的抗氧化能力,有利于促进运动性贫血的恢复。     

Optimizing the Geometry of Implantable Leads for Recording the Monophasic Action Potential with Fractally Coated Electrodes

This study investigates the influence of various lead geometry on intracardial signals like the monophasic action potential (MAP) to optimize the geometry of implantable MAP leads. The experimental results were compared with a field theoretical approach to the origin of MAP from the transmembrane potential (TAP). During the experiments several lead geometries (tip surface: 1.3 to 12 mm²; tip-ring distance: 0.8 mm to 25 cm; ring surface: 1.8mm² to 40 mm²) were investigated in endo- and epicardial positions in 12 dogs (17±9 kg). The electrodes were fixed passively (tines) or actively (screws). MAP was recorded during several interventions and correlated with MAP measured using an Ag-AgCl MAP catheter. The experimental results showed that small tips provided high MAP amplitudes with less pressure. No difference was observed using active and passive fixations. A tip-ring distance smaller than 5 mm with a ring surface smaller than the tip (<5 mm²) avoided artifacts in the repolarization course. For the theoretical approach the quasistatic, anisotropic bidomain model was calculated in smalt unity volumes V_i where the TAP φ_m was constant and represented by the current density J. Two solutions for electrode positions at and outside the heart were achieved. By superposition of each solution φ_ei the summed potential at the electrode position was calculated. The theoretical findings show in good correlation with the experimental results that a larger distance than 10 mm leads to distortions in repolarization course by signals proportional to φ_out.     

Commentary on the safety of red cells preserved in extended-storage media for neonatal transfusions

Red cells preserved in extended-storage media are the standard product dispensed by many regional blood centers. When the red cells are intended for neonatal transfusion, concern exists about the safety of the relatively high quantities of additives present in these media. Definitive studies to address these concerns are not available. Therefore, to estimate the effects of additives and to delineate circumstances in which they might be harmful, the quantities transfused in defined clinical settings were calculated, and the following recommendations are offered for transfusing infants less than 4 months of age. First, red cells preserved in extended-storage media should present no substantive risks when used for small-volume (approximately 10 mL/kg) transfusions of premature infants and can be used without additional processing. Second, the risks of the most premature neonatal patients or those with severe renal and/or hepatic insufficiency cannot be defined clearly, and, because data are not available to ensure safety for these infants, removal of the additive medium and resuspension of the red cells in saline or albumin solution immediately before transfusion are recommended. Third, following a similar rationale, it seems prudent to avoid using entire units of red cells preserved in extended-storage media in massive transfusion settings (e.g., exchange transfusion, cardiac surgery, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). In these settings, the preservative medium should be removed and the red cells resuspended in the fluid that is most appropriate for the procedure that is planned. It must be emphasized that these recommendations are based on calculations and hypothetical settings, not actual data. Accordingly, they are tentative and should be altered as definitive information becomes available.