Results From a Large,Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis On Radium223 Use in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) in the Triveneto Italian Region

Background

Radium 223 was introduced for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer based on the results of a randomized controlled trial showing risk reduction for death and skeletal events. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of patients receiving radium 223 in a real-world setting.

Transdermal microconduits by microscission for drug delivery and sample acquisition

Background  

Painless, rapid, controlled, minimally invasive molecular transport across human skin for drug delivery and analyte acquisition is of widespread interest. Creation of microconduits through the stratum corneum and epidermis is achieved by stochastic scissioning events localized to typically 250 μm diameter areas of human skin in vivo.     

Embryonic development of four different subsets of cholinergic neurons in rat cervical spinal cord

The developmental stage at which a neuron becomes committed to a neurotransmitter phenotype is an important time in its ontogenetic history. The present study examines when choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is first detected within each of four different subsets of cholinergic neurons previously identified in the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord: namely, motor neurons, partition cells, central canal cluster cells, and dorsal horn neurons. By examining the temporal sequence of embryonic development of these cholinergic neurons, we can infer the relationships between ChAT expression and other important developmental events. ChAT was first detected reliably on embryonic day 13 (E13) by both biochemical and immunocytochemical methods, and it was localized predominantly within motor neurons. A second group of primitive-appearing ChAT-positive cells was detected adjacent to the ventricular zone on E14. These neurons seemed to disperse laterally into the intermediate zone by E15, and, on the basis of their location, were tentatively identified as partition cells. A third group of primitive ChAT-immunoreactive cells was detected on E16, both within and around the ventral half of the ventricular zone. By E17, some members of this "U"-shaped group appeared to have dispersed dorsally and laterally, probably giving rise to dorsal horn neurons as well as dorsal central canal cluster cells. Other members of this group remained near the ventral ventricular zone, most likely differentiating into ventral central canal cluster cells. Combined findings from the present study and a previous investigation of neurogenesis (Phelps et al.: J. Comp. Neurol. 273:459-472, '88), suggest that premitotic precursor cells have not yet acquired the cholinergic phenotype because ChAT is not detectable until after the onset of neuronal generation for each of the respective subsets of cholinergic neurons. However, ChAT is expressed in primitive bipolar neurons located within or adjacent to the germinal epithelium. Transitional stages of embryonic development suggest that these primitive ChAT-positive cells migrate to different locations within the intermediate zone to differentiate into the various subsets of mature cholinergic neurons. Therefore, it seems likely that spinal cholinergic neurons are committed to the cholinergic phenotype at pre- or early migratory stages of their development. Our results also hint that the subsets of cholinergic cells may follow different migration routes. For example, presumptive partition cells may use radial glial processes for guidance, whereas dorsal horn neurons may migrate along nerve fibers of the commissural pathway. Cell-cell interactions along such diverse migratory pathways could play a role in determining the different morphological, and presumably functional, phenotypes expressed by spinal cholinergic neurons.     

MILITANCY TRAUMA : MAXILLOFACIAL INJURY,ANAESTHESIA AND CRITICAL CARE

Eighty four out of 2151 militancy trauma patients sustained severe maxillofacial injury from Jan 1990 to March 1993. The resuscitation, stabilisation and intensive care of these patients was based on management priorities of primary resuscitation, care of airway, management of haemodynamics, oxygenation and monitoring. Anaesthesia was administered in a situation when the airway was likely to be compromised and the patients were critically sick. Initial ventilation and oxygenation was the most difficult and could be achieved with satisfactory seal around the face mask by applying water-soaked guaze pieces around the mouth and nose to “fill-in” the defects. Tracheal intubation could be accomplished with intravenous sedation by an experienced anaesthesiologist. Dental occlusion and wiring necessiated the placement of nasotracheal tube for 48-72 hours after surgery.KEY WORDS: Trauma, Maxillofacial injury, Trauma anesthesia, Anaesthesia and critical care     

Actuarial survival in the premature infant less than 30 weeks' gestation

OBJECTIVE: Because survival from admission to discharge does not provide parents and physicians information about future life expectancy in the premature neonate, we characterized the actuarial survival, defined as the future life expectancy from a given postnatal age, in a large inborn population of premature infants < 30 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: We determined daily actuarial survival of 1925 inborn infants (23 to 29 weeks' gestation) admitted to the Baylor Affiliated Nurseries from July 1986 through December 1994, stratified by 100-g birth weight and by 1-week gestational-age intervals. RESULTS: In the 501- to 600-g birth weight stratum, actuarial survival improved from 31% at birth, to 61% on day of life 7, and then to 75% on day of life 28; in the 901- to 1000-g birth weight stratum, actuarial survival improved from 88%, to 94%, and then to 98% throughout the same times, respectively. Similar trends were obtained when data were stratified by gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Survival in the smallest infants improves dramatically during the first few days of life, but there is a significant risk for late death in the smallest of these infants.