High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for prostate cancer

Recent advances in high-intensity focused ultrasound, which was developed in the 1940s as a viable thermal tissue ablation approach, have increased its popularity. High-intensity focused ultrasound is currently utilized the most in Europe and Japan, but has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, USA, for this indication. The purpose of the present report is to review the scientific foundation of high-intensity focused ultrasound technology and the clinical outcomes achieved with commercially available devices. Recently published articles were reviewed to evaluate the current status of high-intensity focused ultrasound as a primary or salvage treatment option for localized prostate cancer. Improvements in the clinical outcome as a result of technical, imaging and technological advancements are described herein. A wide range of treatment options for organ-confined prostate cancer is available. However, high-intensity focused ultrasound is an attractive choice for men willing to choose less invasive options, although establishing the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound requires longer follow-up periods. Technological advances, together with cultural and economic factors, have caused a dramatic shift from traditional open, radical prostatectomy to minimally invasive techniques. High-intensity focused ultrasound is likely to play a significant role in the future of oncology practice.     

Repellent activity of herbal essential oils against Aedes aegypti (Linn.) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say.)

Objective

To determine the mosquito repellent activity of herbal essential oils against female Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.

Methods

On a volunteer''s forearm, 0.1 mL of each essential oil was applied to 3 cm×10 cm of exposed skin. The protection time was recorded for 3 min after every 30 min.

Results

Essential oil from clove oil in olive oil and in coconut oil gave the longest lasting period of 76.50 min and 96.00 min respectively against Aedes aegypti. The citronella grass oil in olive oil, citronella grass oil in coconut oil and lemongrass oil in coconut oil exhibited protection against Culex quinquefasciatus at 165.00, 105.00, and 112.50 min respectively.

Conclusions

The results clearly indicated that clove, citronella and lemongrass oil were the most promising for repellency against mosquito species. These oils could be used to develop a new formulation to control mosquitoes.     

Epidemiology of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok,Thailand

Objective

To determine the prevalence of infestation with head lice in primary schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand.

Methods

The present study was to determine the head lice infestation (Pediculosis) levels in primary schoolchildren, during May, 2011 to July, 2011, A total of 3 747 schoolchildren aged 5-12 years old from 12 selected primary school of Ladkrabang district, the eastern area of Bangkok were examined for head lice. Pediculosis was defined as the presence of at least on living adult, nymph and viable egg.

Results

The overall head lice infestation rate was 23.32% and infestation rate was higher in girls (47.12%) than in boys (0%). The infestation rate among schoolchildren varied from 12.62% to 29.76%. The infestation rate among girls varied from 26.07% (12 years old group) to 55.89% (8 years old group).

Conclusions

Pediculosis is a common public health problem affecting primary schoolchildren in eastern area of Bangkok and those levels are epidemic importance.     

Cytotoxicity,Acute Oral Toxicity,and Skin Irritation of 2-ethylhexyl-2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate and di(2-ethylhexyl)-2,4,5-trimethoxybenzalmalonate

Safety of two new ultraviolet (UV) filters, 2-ethylhexyl-2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate (E8) and 2-ethylhexyl-2,4,5-trimethoxybenzalmalonate (B8), has been evaluated through the human melanoma cytotoxicity test and seven-day acute oral toxicity studies in rats. At 2.5 mg/mL, both compounds gave similar cell viability to the control. LD₅₀ values for E8 and B8 are more than 5000 and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively. No significant difference in body weight and hematological parameters among the 0, 5, 50, 500, and 5000 mg/Kg E8-treated animals could be detected. Pathological examination of rat tissues collected at the end of the study period revealed no significant difference between the control and all E8-administered rats. There was no significant difference in all clinical blood chemistry parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and cholesterol), except alanine aminotransferase (ALT), between the control and the E8-treated animals. All ALT values were, however, in the normal range of SD rats. E8 showed negative results for the skin irritation study on human volunteers, using patch and photopatch tests. Excitation of respiratory signs of dypsnea in 10, 100, and 1000 mg/Kg B8-treated rats could be observed during 1–24 h. All groups were, however, normal during the second to the seventh day. Hematological parameters of the 0, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/Kg B8-treated animals showed no significant difference. Pathological examination revealed no significant difference between the control and all B8-administered rats. However, significant differences in some clinical blood chemistry parameters and body weights between the control and some B8-treated animals could be detected. All values, however, were in the normal ranges of the SD rats.     

Halogenated benzoate derivatives of altholactone with improved anti-fungal activity

Altholactone exhibited the anti-fungal activity with a high MIC value of 128 μg ml^?1 against Cryptococcus neoformans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fifteen ester derivatives of altholactone 1–15 were modified by esterification and their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic methods. Most of the ester derivatives exhibited stronger anti-fungal activities than that of the precursor altholactone. 3-Bromo- and 2,4-dichlorobenzoates (7 and 15) exhibited the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against C. neoformans at 16 μg ml^?1_, while the 4-bromo-, 4-iodo-, and 1-bromo-3-chlorobenzoates (11–13) displayed potent activity against S. cerevisiae with MIC values of 1 μg ml^?1. In conclusion, this analysis indicates that the anti-fungal activity of altholactone is enhanced by addition of halogenated benzoyl group to the 3-OH group.     

Cytotoxicity, acute oral toxicity, and skin irritation of 2-ethylhexyl-2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate and di(2-ethylhexyl)-2,4,5-trimethoxybenzalmalonate

Safety of two new ultraviolet (UV) filters, 2-ethylhexyl-2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate (E8) and 2-ethylhexyl-2,4,5-trimethoxybenzalmalonate (B8), has been evaluated through the human melanoma cytotoxicity test and seven-day acute oral toxicity studies in rats. At 2.5 mg/mL, both compounds gave similar cell viability to the control. LD50 values for E8 and B8 are more than 5000 and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively. No significant difference in body weight and hematological parameters among the 0, 5, 50, 500, and 5000 mg/Kg E8-treated animals could be detected. Pathological examination of rat tissues collected at the end of the study period revealed no significant difference between the control and all E8-administered rats. There was no significant difference in all clinical blood chemistry parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and cholesterol), except alanine aminotransferase (ALT), between the control and the E8-treated animals. All ALT values were, however, in the normal range of SD rats. E8 showed negative results for the skin irritation study on human volunteers, using patch and photopatch tests. Excitation of respiratory signs of dypsnea in 10, 100, and 1000 mg/Kg B8-treated rats could be observed during 1-24 h. All groups were, however, normal during the second to the seventh day. Hematological parameters of the 0, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/Kg B8-treated animals showed no significant difference. Pathological examination revealed no significant difference between the control and all B8-administered rats. However, significant differences in some clinical blood chemistry parameters and body weights between the control and some B8-treated animals could be detected. All values, however, were in the normal ranges of the SD rats.     

Basal level insulin delivery: in vitro release, stability, biocompatibility, and in vivo absorption from thermosensitive triblock copolymers

The major goal of this study was to develop the biodegradable and biocompatible thermosensitive polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid triblock copolymer-based delivery systems for controlled release of basal level insulin for a longer duration after single subcutaneous injection. Insulin was dispersed into aqueous copolymer solutions to prepare the delivery system. The in vitro release profile of insulin from delivery systems was studied at 37°C in phosphate-buffered saline. Stability of released insulin was investigated using circular dichroism, differential scanning calorimetry, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and skin histology were used to determine the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of the delivery systems, respectively. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model was used to study the in vivo absorption and bioactivity of insulin. In vitro release studies indicated that the delivery systems released insulin over 3 months in structurally stable form. The delivery systems were biocompatible in vitro and in vivo. In vivo absorption and bioactivity studies demonstrated elevated insulin level and corresponding decreased blood glucose level in diabetic rats. Thus, the delivery systems released insulin at a controlled rate in vitro in conformationally and chemically stable form and in vivo in biologically active form up to 3 months.     

Controlled delivery of basal level of insulin from chitosan-zinc-insulin-complex-loaded thermosensitive copolymer

Present study was aimed at developing a delivery system for controlled release of insulin, based on chitosan-zinc-insulin complex incorporated into poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) (4500 Da) thermosensitive polymer. In vitro release of insulin from the delivery system was studied in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4). The effect of zinc and chitosan on the stability of insulin in the delivery systems during release and storage at 4°C and 37°C was investigated. Circular dichroism, calorimetry, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), high-performance liquid chromatography, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to determine the stability of insulin released and extracted from the gel. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the initial burst was observed from the formulation containing chitosan-zinc-insulin complex, compared with all other formulations. The formulations containing chitosan-zinc-insulin complex showed a long-term controlled release (～ 84 days) of insulin. Insulin released and extracted from the gel was conformationally and structurally stable. Bands at 12 kDa were observed in native PAGE, but sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE indicated noncovalent nature of insulin aggregates. Thus, the chitosan-zinc-insulin complex significantly reduced the initial burst release and prolonged the release of insulin. It also improved the stability of insulin in the delivery system and protected insulin from aggregation during the entire release period and storage.