Targeted opening of the blood-brain barrier using VCAM-1 functionalised microbubbles and "whole brain" ultrasound.

Metastatic tumours in the brain now represent one of the leading causes of death from cancer. Current treatments are largely ineffective owing to the combination of late diagnosis and poor delivery of therapies across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Conjugating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents with a monoclonal antibody for VCAM-1 (anti-VCAM1) has been shown to enable detection of micrometastases, two to three orders of magnitude smaller in volume than those currently detectable clinically.

A Hand-Held Magnetic Acoustic Device With Integrated Real-Time Monitoring for Targeted Drug Delivery.

Advances in magnetic materials have enabled the development of new therapeutic agents that can be localized by external magnetic fields. These agents offer a potential means of improving treatment targeting and reducing the toxicity-related side effects associated with systemic delivery. Achieving sufficiently high magnetic fields at clinically relevant depths in vivo, however, remains a challenge.

Neuroinflammation associated with ultrasound-mediated permeabilization of the blood-brain barrier.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) continues to represent one of the most significant challenges for successful drug-based treatments of neurological disease. Mechanical modulation of the BBB using focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles (MBs) has shown considerable promise in enhancing the delivery of therapeutics to the brain, but questions remain regarding possible long-term effects of such forced disruption. This review examines the evidence for inflammation associated with ultrasound-induced BBB disruption and potential strategies for managing such inflammatory effects to improve both the efficacy and safety of therapeutic ultrasound in neurological applications.

Contrast-Enhanced Sonography with Biomimetic Lung Surfactant Nanodrops.

Nanodrops comprising a perfluorocarbon liquid core can be acoustically vaporized into echogenic microbubbles for ultrasound imaging. Packaging the microbubble in its condensed liquid state provides some advantages, including activation of the acoustic signal, longer circulation persistence, and the advent of expanded diagnostic and therapeutic applications in pathologies which exhibit compromised vasculature. One obstacle to clinical translation is the inability of the limited surfactant present on the nanodrop to encapsulate the greatly expanded microbubble interface, resulting in ephemeral microbubbles with limited utility.

The Risk Reference Panel: a thematic analysis of a multidisciplinary forum for complex cases.

Aims and methodTo describe the functions of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Risk Reference Panel and characterise the typical referrals presented and outcomes from the panel. A structured thematic analysis was performed on verbatim transcripts of 48 panel sessions. RESULTS: The 79 codes identified were grouped into 16 subthemes.

Hydrostatic Pressurization of Lung Surfactant Microbubbles: Observation of a Strain-Rate Dependent Elasticity.

The microbubble offers a unique platform to study lung surfactant mechanics at physiologically relevant geometry and length scale. In this study, we compared the response of microbubbles (∼15 μm initial radius) coated with pure dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) versus naturally derived lung surfactant (SURVANTA) when subjected to linearly increasing hydrostatic pressure at different rates (0.5-2.

Thermal activation of superheated lipid-coated perfluorocarbon drops.

This study explored the thermal conditions necessary for the vaporization of superheated perfluorocarbon nanodrops. Droplets C3F8 and C4F10 coated with a homologous series of saturated diacylphosphatidylcholines were formed by condensation of 4 μm diameter microbubbles. These drops were stable at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, but they vaporized back into microbubbles at higher temperatures.

What about forensic psychiatry as a career? Undergraduate and early post-graduate medical perspectives.

Background: Medical students in the UK are encouraged to plan their career earlier than ever before. What do they need to do that?

Aim: To explore the roles of the undergraduate curriculum and the foundation programme from the perspective of a foundation trainee looking towards a career in forensic psychiatry, and to conduct a pilot survey of undergraduates and early trainees about their knowledge and wishes with respect to forensic psychiatry.

Findings: A fifth of those given a questionnaire responded.