Liposomal Irinotecan Shows a Larger Therapeutic Index than Non-liposomal Irinotecan in Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Pancreatic Cancer.

Introduction: Liposomal irinotecan promotes controlled sustained release of irinotecan (CPT-11), therefore, we hypothesize that the therapeutic index (quantitative measurement of the relative efficacy/safety ratio of a drug) will be higher for liposomal than non-liposomal irinotecan.

Methods: We compared the therapeutic indexes of liposomal and non-liposomal irinotecan in mice bearing subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (PDX) pancreatic tumors under dosing regimens approximating the clinical setting. Following preliminary drug sensitivity/antitumor activity analyses on three PDX tumor models, one model was selected for analyses of efficacy, biomarker, toxicology, pharmacokinetics in mice receiving liposomal irinotecan (2.

Preoperative vaping prevalence and behavior of French surgical patients: A multicentre study.

Introduction: Prevalence and tobacco-related perioperative complications have been largely reported. The impact of vaping (e-cigarette use) on the perioperative period has been rarely evaluated. The purpose of this multicentre cross-sectional survey was to assess the prevalence of vaping and behaviour of patients undergoing elective surgery.

Efficacy and safety of remifentanil in a rapid sequence induction in elderly patients: A three-arm parallel, double blind, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Rapid sequence induction (RSI) is recommended in patients at risk of aspiration, but induced haemodynamic adverse events, including tachycardia. In elderly patients, this trial aimed to assess the impact of the addition of remifentanil during RSI on the occurrence of: tachycardia (primary outcome), hypertension (due to intubation) nor hypotension (remifentanil).

Methods: In this three-arm parallel, double blind, multicentre controlled study, elderly patients (65 to 90 years old) hospitalised in three centres and requiring RSI were randomly allocated to three groups, where anaesthesia was induced with etomidate (0.

Role of the internet as an information resource before anaesthesia consultation: A French prospective multicentre survey.

Background: Use of the internet as an information search tool has increased dramatically. Our study assessed preoperative use of the internet by patients to search for information regarding anaesthesia, surgery, pain or outcomes.

Objective(s): The aim of this study was to test whether patients used the internet prior to surgery and what kinds of information they looked for (anaesthetic technique, pain, adverse events, outcomes and surgery).

Periarticular injection in knee arthroplasty improves quadriceps function.

Background: The postoperative analgesic potential of periarticular anesthetic infiltration (PAI) after TKA is unclear as are the complications of continuous femoral nerve block on quadriceps function.

Questions/purposes: We asked (1) whether PAI provides equal or improved postoperative pain control in comparison to a femoral nerve block in patients who have undergone TKA; and (2) if so, whether PAI improves early postoperative quadriceps control and facilitates rehabilitation.

Methods: We randomized 60 patients to receive either PAI or femoral nerve block.

Synthesis and bioevaluation of 22-hydroxyacuminatine analogs.

A series of 22-hydroxyacuminatine analogs was prepared by using different Friedländer condensations. Several of the new compounds were tested for antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines and for topoisomerase I inhibitory activity.

Pharmacologic inhibition of CDC25 phosphatases impairs interphase microtubule dynamics and mitotic spindle assembly.

The CDC25 cell cycle regulators are promising targets for new pharmacologic approaches in cancer therapy. Inhibitory compounds such as BN82685 have proven to be effective in specifically targeting CDC25 in cultured cells and in inhibiting tumor cell growth. Here, we report that BN82685 impairs microtubule dynamic instability and alters microtubule organization and assembly at the centrosome in interphase cells.

Anticancer activity of BIM-46174, a new inhibitor of the heterotrimeric Galpha/Gbetagamma protein complex.

A large number of hormones and local agonists activating guanine-binding protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) play a major role in cancer progression. Here, we characterize the new imidazo-pyrazine derivative BIM-46174, which acts as a selective inhibitor of heterotrimeric G-protein complex. BIM-46174 prevents the heterotrimeric G-protein signaling linked to several GPCRs mediating (a) cyclic AMP generation (Galphas), (b) calcium release (Galphaq), and (c) cancer cell invasion by Wnt-2 frizzled receptors and high-affinity neurotensin receptors (Galphao/i and Galphaq).

A comparison of mepivacaine versus lidocaine for episcleral (sub-tenon's) block for cataract surgery in an ambulatory setting.

Background And Objectives: For eye surgery, motor block is still often requested by the surgeon. For cataract surgery, rapid block resolution allows eyelids to move and allows eye-patch removal. Therefore, short-duration block is useful in early rehabilitation for ambulatory surgery.

The preoperative administration of ketoprofen improves analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in comparison with propacetamol or postoperative ketoprofen.

Background: Non-opioid analgesics, paracetamol and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are proposed for pain relief after laparoscopy. We compared perioperative propacetamol (P) and ketoprofen (K) to provide analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: After ethical committee approval, we included 104 ASA I-II patients, without preoperative analgesic drugs, who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

[Morphine overdose due to cumulative errors leading to ACP pump dysfunction].

We report the case of a 67-year-female patient treated with a postoperative patient controlled analgesia using an Abbott Gemstar pump for after nephrectomy. In the postanaesthesia care unit, fifteen minutes after connecting with of the pump (which bag contained 100 mg of morphine) to the patient, respiratory arrest occurred. A morphine overdose was caused by uncontrolled delivery of the entire bag contents by free flowing due only to gravity.

Ophthalmic regional anesthesia: medial canthus episcleral (sub-tenon) single injection block.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of episcleral single-injection anesthesia in a large number of patients.

Methods: Over a period of 5 yr, in four institutions, anesthesiologists involved in this prospective study completed a standardized form to evaluate single-injection medial canthus high-volume episcleral anesthesia. The success rate of the block was rated according to an akinesia score.

Immunomodulatory activity of two new aza alkyl phospholipid antineoplastic drugs.

The present work reports the modulation of immunocompetent cell functions by two aza alkyl phospholipids (AAP), BN 52205 and BN 52211. Each compound was compared with 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3) and/or three drugs used for cancer treatment, i.e.

Modulation of the priming effects of platelet-activating factor on the release of interleukin-1 from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat spleen macrophages.

The pharmacologic modulation of the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on the interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity present in the supernatants from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages was investigated. Rat spleen macrophages were isolated by centrifugation on a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient followed by adherence on plastic petri dishes for 60 min at 37 degrees C under a 5% CO2/95% air atmosphere. The IL-1 content in the cell-free supernatants was assessed using the mouse thymocyte proliferation assay.