Entrapment of bioactive molecules in poly (alkylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles

Poly (alkylcyanoacrylate) [PACA] nanoparticles have been studied since the early 1980s as possible colloidal drug delivery systems. Several excellent general reviews have since been published on this subject. This review focuses on the use of the two different methods (encapsulation and sorption) for the entrapment of drugs and model compounds in PACA nanoparticles. The term encapsulation is used when the drug or model compound is added at the same time or before the monomer to the polymerization template. The term sorption is used when the compound is added after the polymerization has taken place. High drug entrapment can be achieved with both methods and the method of entrapment (encapsulation or sorption) should be chosen depending on the type of drug to be entrapped and the method of particle preparation (interfacial polymerization of a coarse emulsion or a microemulsion or micellar polymerization). The type, chain length, and amount of monomer used for the polymerization as well as possible interactions of the compound with the monomer during polymerization should also be considered in the choice of entrapment method and these can also influence the extent of encapsulation.     

Publication rates of abstracts presented at annual scientific meetings: How does the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists compare?

The abstract to publication ratio (APR) is a measure of the quality of scientific meetings. The aim of the present study was to determine the publication rate of abstracts presented at annual Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) conferences, and to identify the publishing journals. All free paper research abstracts (oral or poster) presented by RANZCR radiologists, radiation oncologists and trainees at the four consecutive meetings between 1996 and 1999 were identified retrospectively from conference programmes. The PubMed database ( http:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPubMed ) was searched to determine whether or not the abstract had been published as a full paper. Of the 480 free paper research abstracts, 168 (35%) had been published as full articles. The overall abstract to publication ratio for radiology was 29% and for radiation oncology was 41%. Papers were published in a variety of journals but Australasian Radiology accounted for 27%. The mean time between presentation and publication was 16.5 months (median 17 months). These overall abstract to publication ratios are lower than those reported for overseas‐based meetings in each respective area. Guidelines to scientific committees could increase the APR by more rigorous selection of abstracts. Future research should look at barriers to the publication of research findings, and identify ways to assist the publication process.     

Monocyte major histocompatibility complex class II expression in term and preterm labor

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how term and preterm labor (PTL) influence the balance between maternal proinflammatory and antiinflammatory responses as measured by expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II on maternal monocytes and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by in vitro stimulation of whole blood by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: Blood was taken from the following women (n=118): term elective cesarean delivery or in spontaneous labor, in premature labor, or with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at less than 32 weeks, and gestation-matched reference group. Monocyte MHC Class II expression was measured by flow cytometry using a dual-staining technique. Plasma cytokine levels were assayed using a cytometric bead array system. In vitro whole blood stimulation with LPS was also performed, and cytokine production was measured. RESULTS: Term labor was associated with a fall in the percentage of monocytes expressing MHC Class II, compared with third trimester of pregnancy, P<.05 and a reduction in LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha production. This fall in MHC Class II was even more pronounced in PTL and preterm PROM groups compared with the reference group, P<.01. CONCLUSION: There was evidence of reduced expression of monocyte MHC Class II and LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha in term and preterm labor. This pattern of reduced MHC Class II expression and reduced TNF-alpha production is known as monocyte hyporesponsiveness or immune paresis. Detection of this state may provide insights into the maternal inflammatory status and be of use in the management of women with threatened PTL or preterm PROM. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.     

Peripancreatic Fat Invasion Is an Independent Predictor of Poor Outcome Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Background  

Following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), identification of peripancreatic fat tumor invasion promotes a tumor to stage T3. We sought to understand better the impact of histological peripancreatic fat invasion on prognosis and site of recurrence in a cohort of patients with PDAC.