Transabdominal versus endovaginal pelvic sonography: prospective study

Transabdominal and endovaginal pelvic sonograms were obtained in 108 nonpregnant patients referred for pelvic sonography. The studies were independently obtained by two radiologists and interpreted on the basis of identical clinical information. The sonograms were then compared for anatomic detail and abnormalities. A determination was made about which examination, if either, was superior. Follow-up was performed through a review of the medical records and follow-up studies. Overall, the endovaginal study was judged superior in 65 cases (60.2%), equal in 39 (36.1%), and inferior in four (3.7%). The authors conclude that the endovaginal examination can effectively replace the transabdominal examination as the initial approach for routine pelvic sonography.     

马来酰亚胺苯甲氨酯聚乙二醇修饰膜蛋白掩盖AB和RhD抗原制备通用血型红细胞

聚乙二醇(PEG)上的活性基团结合在红细胞表面掩盖血型抗原是制备通用血型红细胞的途径之一,这些PEG链有很强的水合作用,能覆盖红细胞表面的大片区域,阻断血型抗原与抗体结合。甲基氧PEG-5000(mPEG-5000)是常用的红细胞修饰剂,主要修饰蛋白上的氨基基团。在氯化氰脲酸(CnCl)催化下,mPEG-5000与红细胞膜上氨基形成共价键连接,掩盖Rh抗原和A或B抗原。CnCl-PEG-5000浓度越高,血型抗原的覆盖效果越好。由于微环境下A和B血型抗原处无氨基基团或者氨基基团不能被CnCl-PEG-5000修饰,不能完全阻断抗-A、B与A和B血型抗原结合。本文报道…     

Expression of human neutrophil proteins in acne vulgaris

Background In acne vulgaris patients, the presence of a dysregulation of the production of innate and specific antimicrobial peptides has been postulated. Objective This study aims to determine whether human neutrophil proteins (HNP) 1–3 are expressed in acne patients. Materials and methods HNP 1–3 expression was investigated in 35 acne patients treated with isotretinoin and in 25 healthy subjects. At the beginning of the study, two skin biopsies were taken from acne patients; one biopsy was taken from an established pustule and one from uninvolved skin, and the biopsies were repeated after treatment. Only one biopsy was obtained from controls. Results The statistical analysis showed that pustular lesions of acne patients had significantly higher levels of perivascular and interstitial HNP 1–3 expression when compared with the biopsy of uninvolved skin of these patients (P = 0.003, P = 0.001, respectively) and with that of healthy controls (P = 0.007, P = 0.014, respectively). Isotretinoin treatment achieved a decrease in the perivascular and interstitial HNP 1–3 expression of pustular lesions (P = 0.01, P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Our current study demonstrates the novel observation that a recently identified antimicrobial peptide, HNP 1–3, is expressed in neutrophils of acne inflammation but not in uninvolved skin of these patients. These results suggest that HNP 1–3 may contribute to the development of inflammatory lesions of acne.     

The unmasking of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis jiroveci</Emphasis> pneumonia during reversal of immunosuppression: case reports and literature review

Background  

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is an important opportunistic infection among immunosuppressed patients, especially in those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The clinical presentation of PCP in immunosuppressed patients have been well-reported in the literature. However, the clinical importance of PCP manifesting in the setting of an immunorestitution disease (IRD), defined as an acute symptomatic or paradoxical deterioration of a (presumably) preexisting infection, which is temporally related to the recovery of the immune system and is due to immunopathological damage associated with the reversal of immunosuppressive processes, has received relatively little attention until recently.     

DIFFICULTIES AND DILEMMAS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CONGENITAL ANOMALIES IN TWIN PREGNANCY

Both the incidence of twin pregnancy and the demand for prenatal diagnosis are increasing. Unfortunately, biochemical screening and ultrasound scanning are less reliable for prenatal diagnosis in twin pregnancies than in singletons. Amniocentesis and chorionic villous biopsy are usually diagnostic in singleton pregnancies but may be marred by sampling errors in twin gestations. Where a congenital anomaly has been diagnosed in a twin pregnancy, difficult decisions may have to be made, especially if one twin is unaffected. In these cases, special skills are required to ensure that adequate information, psychological support and optimal medical care are provided.     

Increased accumulation and retention of micellar paclitaxel in drug-sensitive and P-glycoprotein-expressing cell lines following ultrasound exposure

Ultrasound treatment has been shown to enhance the uptake of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds into PC3 and Huvec cell lines using an insonation regimen of a single 10-s burst of high-frequency (4 MHz), moderate intensity (32 W/cm(2)) ultrasound. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of this ultrasound regimen on the cellular accumulation of paclitaxel (PTX) loaded in copolymer micellar of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (MePEG-b-PDLLA) in both drug-sensitive (MDCKII and MCF-7) and P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-expressing (MDCKII-MDR and NCI-ADR) cell lines. There were no effects of ultrasound on hydrodynamic diameters of micelles and the release of FRET pairs, indicating the integrity of micelles was maintained. There was a two-fold increase in intracellular PTX for all ultrasound-treated drug-sensitive cell lines and their respective drug-resistant counterparts compared with no ultrasound. Significant decreases in drug efflux rates were observed at 20, 40 and 60 min for both drug-sensitive and -resistant cell lines receiving ultrasound. The enhanced accumulation and retention of PTX by ultrasound resulted in greater cytotoxicity in both MDCKII and MDCKII-MDR cell lines, as indicated by the MTS assay. These data suggest that ultrasound may facilitate the uptake of intact paclitaxel-loaded micelles into cells, allowing greater retention of drug in both Pgp and non-Pgp-expressing cells.     

Preparation and evaluation of pellets using acacia and tragacanth by extrusion-spheronization

Background and the purpose of the study

Extrusion-spheronization is an established technique for the production of pellets for pharmaceutical applications. In this study, the feasibility and influence of the incorporation of acacia, by itself and in combination with tragacanth, on the ability of formulations containing 2 model of drugs (ibuprofen and theophylline) to form spherical pellets by extrusion-spheronization was investigated.

Material and Methods

Formulations containing different ratios of acacia and tragacanth (8:2, 9:1, and 10:0) and different drug concentrations (20%, 40%, and 60%) were prepared, on the basis of a 3² full factorial design. Pellet properties, such as aspect ratio, sphericity (image analysis), crushing strength and elastic modulus (mechanical tests), mean dissolution time, and dissolution profiles were evaluated. The effect of particular factors on responses was determined by linear regression analysis.

Results

The sphericity, drug release rate, and the mechanical properties of the pellets were affected by the amounts and types of the drugs, and the ratio of the gums. Acacia, relative to tragacanth, produced pellets with higher mechanical strength and a faster drug release rate. Addition of small amounts of tragacanth to ibuprofen formulations resulted in matrix pellets with slow drug release.

Conclusion

The results showed that acacia and tragacanth can be used successfully as 2 natural binders in the pellet formulations.