Nano in nano: Biosynthesized gold and iron nanoclusters cargo neoplastic exosomes for cancer status biomarking

Timely detection is crucial for successful treatment of cancer. The current study describes a new approach that involves utilization of the tumor cell environment for bioimaging with in-situ biosynthesized nanoscale gold and iron probes and subsequent dissemination of Au-Fe nanoclusters from cargo exosomes within the circulatory system. We have isolated the Au-Fe cargo exosomes from the blood of the treated murine models after in situ biosyntheses from their respective pre-ionic solutions (HAuCl₄, FeCl₂), whereas Na₂SeO₃ supplementation added into Au lethal effect. The microarray data of various differentially expressed genes revealed the up-regulated tumor ablation and metal binding genes in SGC-7901 cell lines after treatment with Au-Fe-Se triplet ionic solution. The isolation of Au-Fe nanoclusters cargo exosomes (nano in nano) after secretion from deeply seated tumors may help in early diagnosis and reveal the tumor ablation status during and after the relevant treatment like radio-chemo therapies et al.     

DNA-loaded nano-adjuvant formed with a vitamin E-scaffold intracellular environmentally-responsive lipid-like material for cancer immunotherapy

Cytoplasmic DNA triggers cellular immunity via activating the stimulator of interferon genes pathway. Since DNA is degradable and membrane impermeable, delivery system would permit cytoplasmic delivery by destabilizing the endosomal membrane for the use as an adjuvant. Herein, we report on the development of a plasmid DNA (pDNA)-encapsulating lipid nanoparticle (LNP). The structural components include an SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material that mounts vitamin E as a hydrophobic scaffold, and dual sensing motifs that are responsive to the intracellular environment (ssPalmE). The pDNA-encapsulating LNP (ssPalmE-LNP) induced a high interferon-β production in Raw 264.7 cells. The subcutaneous injection of ssPalmE-LNP strongly enhanced antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell activity. The ssPalmE-LNP treatment efficiently induced antitumor effects against E.G7-OVA tumor and B16-F10 melanoma metastasis. Furthermore, when combined with an anti-programmed death 1 antibody, an extensive therapeutic antitumor effect was observed. Therefore, the ssPalmE-LNP is a promising carrier of adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy.     

Dual photoacoustic/ultrasound multi-parametric imaging from passion fruit-like nano-architectures

Ultrasound (US) imaging is a well-established diagnostic technique to image soft tissues in real time, while photoacoustic (PA) is an emerging imaging technique employed to collect molecular information. Integration of PA and US imaging provides complementary information enhancing diagnostic accuracy without employing ionizing radiations. The development of contrast agents able to combine PA and US features is pivotal to improve the significance of PAUS imaging and for PAUS-guided treatment of neoplasms. Here, we demonstrate in relevant ex-vivo models that disassembling passion fruit-like nano-architectures (pfNAs) can be employed in PAUS imaging. pfNAs are composed by silica nanocapsules comprising aggregates of commercial NIR-dyes-modified polymers and ultrasmall gold nanoparticles. The intrinsic US and PA features of pfNAs have been fully characterized and validated in tissue-mimicking materials and in ex vivo preparations. Moreover, the application of a multi-parametric approach has allowed the increase of information extrapolated from collected images for a fine texture analysis.     

The role of parental and perinatal characteristics on Langerhans cell histiocytosis: characterizing increased risk among Hispanics

Purpose

Potential roles of inherited and environmental risk factors in pathogenesis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a myeloid neoplastic disorder, are undefined. We therefore evaluated the role of parental and perinatal factors on the risk of this childhood cancer.

Response rates in case-control studies of cancer by era of fieldwork and by characteristics of study design

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe time trends in response rates in case-control studies of cancer and identify study design factors that influence response rate.

The antivascular action of physiotherapy ultrasound on a murine tumor: role of a microbubble contrast agent

This study investigated whether a microbubble-containing ultrasound contrast agent had a role in the antivascular action of physiotherapy ultrasound on tumor neovasculature. Ultrasound images (B-mode and contrast-enhanced power Doppler [0.02 mL Definity]) were made of 22 murine melanomas (K1735²²). The tumor was insonated (I_SATA = 1.7 W cm^–2, 1 MHz, continuous output) for 3 min and the power Doppler observations of the pre- and postinsonation tumor vascularities were analyzed. Significant reductions (p = 0.005 for analyses of color-weighted fractional area) in vascularity occurred when a contrast-enhanced power Doppler study occurred before insonation. Vascularity was unchanged in tumors without a pretherapy Doppler study. Histologic studies revealed tissue structural changes that correlated with the ultrasound findings. The underlying etiology of the interaction between the physiotherapy ultrasound beam, the microbubble-containing contrast agent and the tumor neovasculature is unknown. It was concluded that contrast agents play an important role in the antivascular effects induced by physiotherapy ultrasound. (E-mail: sehgalc@uphs.upenn.edu)     

良、恶性肺磨玻璃结节MSCT影像学特征及诊断价值

目的分析良、恶性肺磨玻璃结节MSCT影像学特征及诊断价值。方法回顾性分析,本院2017年2月至2019年8月在本院收治的100例肺部GGN患者,所有患者均进行MSCT检查。对患者所得图像进行分析,对患者临床资料进行收集分析,并以病理结果为基准比较MSCT检查对良、恶性肺磨玻璃结节诊断符合率。结果良恶性肺GGN患者在吸烟史、年龄、肿瘤直径,有MSCT征象(毛刺、空泡、分叶、胸膜凹陷、血管集束、支气管充气)、以及CT值比中差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。多元Logistic回归分析:年龄偏大、CT值高、有毛刺、空泡、分叶、胸膜凹陷、支气管充气征为影响恶性肺GGN的危险因素(P<0.05)。与病理结果比较,MSCT对良性肺GGN诊断符合率不一致(P<0.05)。但对恶性肺GGN诊断符合率一致(P>0.05)。结论对存在危险因素的患者需怀疑是否为恶性肺GGN,对肺GGN性质诊断中需结合患者基本情况、临床表现、影像学检查进行诊断鉴别。     

肝癌晚期患者转化治疗前后心理痛苦及生活质量的调查

目的 观察并分析晚期肝癌患者在转化治疗前后心理痛苦及生活质量变化情况,以期为临床开展心理干预等提供参考,同时为序贯外科手术治疗做好前期准备。方法 选取2019年7月~2022年3月的60例进行转化治疗的患者,治疗前及治疗2~10个周期后,采用心理痛苦温度计及其问题列表测定心理痛苦程度变化,采用肝胆肿瘤治疗功能评定量表测定患者生活质量。结果 转化治疗后,患者心理痛苦的分值与转化治疗前比较明显降低（P<0.01）;转化治疗后心理痛苦情绪因素紧张、担忧、睡眠问题、记忆力下降和注意力不集中,身体因素疼痛、疲乏、进食问题、消化不良比例明显下降,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;转化治疗后,生活质量总分及其中的身体状况、社交/家庭状况、情感状况、功能状况及肝胆特异板块评分较治疗前明显下降（P<0.05）。结论 晚期肝癌患者心理痛苦因素主要集中于情绪因素和身体因素,转化治疗可以明显降低患者心理痛苦程度和提高患者生活质量。     

Suspicious thyroid nodules 4 cm require a diagnostic lobectomy regardless of their benign fine needle aspiration results

Background/objectiveThe diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) seems limited in large thyroid nodules with Bethesda Cat. 2 result. We aimed to determine the incidence of carcinoma with benign cytology and the reason for the high false-positive rate in thyroid nodules ≥4 cm.MethodsThe records of 103 patients with thyroid nodules ≥4 cm with preoperative cytological diagnosis of Bethesda Cat. 2 who underwent thyroidectomy were consecutively reviewed. Characteristics between patients with malignant vs. benign pathology were compared.ResultsForty patients (38.8%) had malignancy. Malignancy was subclassified into follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (43%), minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma (20.0%), and minimally invasive Hurthle cell thyroid carcinoma (10.9%). Patients with malignant cytology had significantly more suspicious ultrasound findings than those with benign cytology (p = 0.001).ConclusionsPreoperative FNAB showed high false-negative rates in patients with thyroid nodules ≥4 cm with benign cytology. These nodules have a high malignancy rate with suspicious ultrasound findings.     

脑下垂体阻滞术的临床应用

应用脑下垂体阻滞术后于例全性顽痛及四例癌痛的治疗，获得满意效果。经Ｘ线检查了解蝶窦、蝶鞍、筛窦所见，并用鼻匀确认鼻腔有无异常，据此选定拟穿刺的鼻孔。平卧全麻后在Ｘ线电视荧光屏下，用特制的脑下垂体双重套针行经鼻脑下垂体穿刺，针尖穿过鞍低到鞍内脑下垂体后，注入造影剂并折片确认针位正确，注入无水乙醇１．８￣２．０ｍｌ。分别用于全身性顽痛、宫颈癌Ⅲ期ｂ、转移性肺癌、外阴癌、卵巢癌痛。本组５例平均疼痛记分（