Boundaries in the workplace

Employees in all health care settings are vulnerable to violations of boundaries: crossing that sometimes blurry line drawn between staff and patient. Accepting gifts, financial transactions, and romantic entanglement could lead to various negative consequences for the agency, staff, and patients. Supervisors need to be aware of early warning signs of boundary violations as well as training issues. The authors outline a successful program for addressing these issues and argue for rehabilitating the chronic boundaries violator.     

Risk factors and maternal outcomes following preterm premature rupture of membrane in the second trimester of gestation

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics - To characterize the population of women who underwent mid-trimester preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) in a country where mid-trimester abortions...     

Apocrine mixed tumour of the lid.

The clinical features and pathological characteristics of a case of apocrine mixed tumour, a rare sweat gland neoplasm located in the lid, are described.     

Alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica and their capacity to inhibit binding of [3H]8-Hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin to 5-HT1A receptors in Vitro

A 70% ethanol extract of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) was able to bind to 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(7) receptors at 100 mug/mL. The subsequent isolation procedure yielded the known alkaloids californidine (1), escholtzine (2), N-methyllaurotetanine (3), caryachine (4), and O-methylcaryachine (5), along with a new pavine alkaloid, 6S,12S-neocaryachine-7-O-methyl ether N-metho salt (7). The structure of 7 was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation, while the absolute stereochemistry was determined by means of circular dichroism. From the results obtained from the radioligand-binding assay of the pure compounds, including the commercially available protopine (6), it was evident that the activity on the 5-HT(1A) receptor was at least partly due to the presence of the aporphine alkaloid 3, which showed the highest inhibition of [(3)H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin ([(3)H]8-OH-DPAT) binding with an EC(50) value of 155 nM and a K(i) of 85 nM.     

An engineered antibody-interleukin-12 fusion protein with enhanced tumor vascular targeting properties

The antibody-mediated targeted delivery of interleukin-12 (IL12) to the EDB domain of fibronectin, a marker of angiogenesis, is a promising avenue for enhancing the therapeutic index of this anti-cancer cytokine. Previous experiments, based on sequential fusion of a single-chain IL12 derivative to the anti-EDB antibody fragment scFv(L19) had yielded a therapeutic fusion protein [IL12-scFv(L19)-FLAG], which displayed an impressive therapeutic activity in murine models of cancer, in spite of a tumor uptake, which was less efficient compared to the parental unmodified scFv(L19). In this article, we describe the comparative analysis of 3 recombinant fusion proteins comprising the scFv(L19) and IL12 moieties. One of them, in which the p40 and p35 form a covalent heterodimer and in which each subunit is fused to a molecule of scFv(L19), displays an excellent tumor targeting performance in vivo, as assessed by quantitative biodistribution analysis, and a potent anti-tumor effect, superior to the one of IL12-scFv(L19)-FLAG. These results may have a clinical impact, considering the fact that the tumor targeting ability of scFv(L19) in patients with cancer has been demonstrated using scintigraphic methods, and that 2 scFv(L19)-based antibody-cytokine fusion are currently entering clinical trials.     

Modulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase and Cytokine Production by Licorice Isolates Licoricidin and Licorisoflavan A: Potential Therapeutic Approach for Periodontitis

Background: Inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) produced by resident and inflammatory cells in response to periodontopathogens play a major role in the tissue destruction observed in periodontitis, which is a disease that affects tooth‐supporting structures. In the present study, we investigate the effects of licorice‐derived licoricidin (LC) and licorisoflavan A (LIA) on the secretion of various cytokines and MMPs by human monocyte‐derived macrophages stimulated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: Macrophages were treated with non‐toxic concentrations of LC or LIA before being stimulated with A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS. The secretion of cytokines and MMPs and the activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) p65 and activator protein (AP)‐1 were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Results: LC and LIA inhibited the secretion of interleukin (IL)‐6 and chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 5 in a concentration‐dependent manner but did not affect the secretion of IL‐8 by LPS‐stimulated macrophages. LC and LIA also inhibited the secretion of MMP‐7, ‐8, and ‐9 by macrophages. The suppression of cytokine and MMP secretion by LC and LIA was associated with the reduced activation of NF‐κB p65 but not that of AP‐1. Conclusion: The present study suggests that LC and LIA have potential for the development of novel host‐modulating strategies for the treatment of cytokine and/or MMP‐mediated disorders such as periodontitis.     

Public health aspects of tobacco control: setting the agenda for action by oral health professions across Europe

Tobacco use is a significant public health problem across Europe. Each year over half a million Europeans die prematurely due to a smoking-related disease. Tobacco use is a primary cause of many oral diseases and adverse oral conditions. The prevalence of tobacco use varies considerably across Europe, although in many countries overall rates of use have declined in recent years. However, tobacco use among women and young people is rising in several European countries. Tobacco behaviour is influenced by an array of factors, and quitting is a major challenge for many tobacco users. Tobacco use is now considered a chronic progressive relapsing condition requiring very specific support and assistance. To reduce tobacco use across Europe, a range of complementary actions and policies are required at an international, national and local level. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) outlines an array of evidence-based policies that can be implemented to prevent tobacco use and promote cessation. National dental associations and professional groups across Europe have an important role to play in supporting the ratification and implementation of the FCTC. The aim of this paper is to outline the public health aspects of tobacco control and highlight how the oral health professions across Europe can become actively engaged in this important and relevant area of prevention.