Effects of macrophage polarization on gold nanoparticle-assisted plasmonic photothermal therapy

Tumor associated macrophages (TAM) are key pathogenic factors in neoplastic diseases. They are known to have plasticity and can polarize into two opposing phenotypes, including the tumoricidal M1 and the protumoral M2 phenotypes with high prevalence of M2-phentoypes in patients with poor prognosis. Strategies for targeting M2-TAM may consequently increase the efficacy of therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Gold nanorod-assisted plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) has emerged as a promising treatment for cancer but the effects of macrophage polarization parameters in the performance of this new treatment modality is still unknown. Herein, human monocytic THP-1 cells were polarized into two opposite phenotypic macrophages (M1-TAM and M2-TAM) and their response to PPTT was examined. M2-TAM exhibits a three-fold increase in AuNP uptake compared to M1-TAM. Laser irradiation results in selective killing of pro-tumoral M2-TAM after treatment with AuNPs with limited effects on anti-tumoral M1-TAM. A positive correlation between the expression of CD206 marker and the AuNP uptake may indicate the role of CD206 in facilitating AuNP uptake. Our findings also suggest that the differences in AuNP avidity and uptake between the M1-TAM and M2-TAM phenotypes may be the rationale behind the effectiveness of PPTT in the treatment of solid tumors.

A preferential uptake of gold nanoparticles by macrophages with a protumoral M2 phenotype result in efficient killing upon laser irradiation while keeping M1 phenotypes relatively undamaged.     

Increased Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated with Unfavorable Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Neurocritical Care - Inflammatory response is the hallmark of secondary brain injury in stroke patients. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) emerged as a marker for functional outcome in several...     

自发性脑出血治疗指南美国心脏协会/美国卒中协会对医疗卫生专业人员发布的指南

目的 本指南旨在为急性自发性脑出血的诊断和治疗提供最新的综合性推荐意见.方法 通过Medline进行规范的文献检索,利用证据表合并资料.撰写委员会成员通过远程电信会议讨论根据资料得出的推荐意见.采用美国心脏协会卒中委员会的证据分级方案对推荐意见进行分级.由6位同行评议专家以及卒中委员会科学声明监督委员会和卒中委员会领导委员会成员对指南 的草案进行发表前审阅.预期本指南在3年内完全更新.结果 本文为脑出血患者的医疗诊治提供了循证指南.重点包括诊断、止血、血压管理、院内管理和护理、预防内科合并症、外科治疗、转归预测、康复、预防复发以及将来需要考虑的问题.结论 脑出血是一种严重的疾病,早期积极救治可影响其转归.本指南为脑出血患者的目标导向治疗提供了一个框架.     

The potential role of various species of intermediate hosts of Schistosoma haematobium in Saudi Arabia

The potential role of 3 species of Bulinus in the transmission of Schistosoma haematobium in Saudi Arabia was assessed on the basis of their susceptibility to experimental infection, their geographical distribution and numbers, and the type of habitats in which they were found. B. truncatus, distributed mainly in the mid- and south-western regions, showed extremely low susceptibility to strains of S. haematobium from Yemen, Egypt and Sudan. The same species from one area in the north-west was refractory to a strain of the parasite from Yemen. In contrast, B. wrighti was very susceptible to infection but is found only in a few habitats far from human settlements, thus probably playing little part in the transmission of the disease. As B. beccarii is highly susceptible to the infection and is distributed widely, this snail is probably the main intermediate host of schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia.     

Choice of the optimal pancreaticojejunal anastomosis technique: how can we improve patient safety in pancreatic surgery?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The cause of the morbidity and mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in the surgical treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the periampullary region is leakage from the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis. The size of the main pancreatic duct and the texture of the remnant pancreas are very important factors for a secure pancreaticojejunal anastomosis. METHODS: A new technique was developed for patients having pancreatic ducts smaller than 3 mm and a hard remnant pancreas. RESULTS: Pylorus-preserving PD was performed for 28 patients who underwent PD at our hospital between January 2004 and January 2007, without mortality. The new technique was used in the 8 patients who had pancreatic ducts smaller than 3 mm and a hard remnant pancreas. With our new technique, different from other previously described techniques, the anastomosis was performed with the sutures passing from the cut-surface of the parenchyma of the pancreas. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon and surgical team. None of the patients developed a fistula. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this anastomosis technique can be performed securely in patients having a hard remnant pancreas and a main pancreatic duct smaller than 3 mm.     

Effect of the preservation-to-surgery interval on corneal allograft survival in low-risk patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of the preservation-to-surgery interval on corneal allograft survival in low-risk patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen donor corneas obtained from an overseas eye bank were preserved and transported overseas in Optisol-GS solution (Chiron Vision, Irvine, CA) in Group 1. Thirty fresh, young, healthy, and unscreened donor corneas soaked in the same medium were used in Group 2. Average preservation-to-surgery time was more than 8 days in Group 1 and less than 30 hours in Group 2. Corneal allograft survival rates were determined by Kaplan-Meier estimates of the survivor functions. The log-rank test was used to determine statistical significance of the differences between groups. was 233.3 +/- 37.7 hours in Group 1 and 20.8 +/- 4.6 hours in Group 2 (P < .05 for the comparison of average times). There were significant differences between the groups with respect to donors' age and enucleation time, but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of graft diameter and recipient diameter or for corneal allograft survival in low-risk patients. The graft survival rate was 83.3% in Group 1 and 93.3% in Group 2 at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Preservation-to-surgery time has no effect on corneal allograft survival in low-risk patients. However, prospective, randomized, long-term and large-scale clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings.     

Unusual Ocular Complications of the HELLP Syndrome: Persistent Macular Elevation and Localized Tractional Retinal Detachment

We report a case of HELLP syndrome with bilateral decreased vision at 25 weeks’ gestation. Fundus examination revealed serous retinal detachment involving the macula. Systemic steroid and oral dorzolamide therapy was initiated and visual acuity improved. At 2 months, peripheral localized tractional retinal detachment was present in the left eye and argon laser photocoagulation was performed. Macular elevation did not resolve; therefore, in the right eye intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection was performed. Drs. Taskapili, Kocabora, and Gulkilik are from the Eye Clinic, Vakıf Gureba Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.