Combined Treatment of Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation Using a 16 Fr Miniresectoscope in an Office Setting Without Anesthesia: A Case Report.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between arteries and veins that bypass the capillary system. Among AVMs, uterine ones are very rare, and it is not possible to have clear data on their incidence, as a good part of the patients remain clinically asymptomatic. Uterine AVMs consist of abnormal communications between branches of the uterine artery and the myometrial venous plexus.

Long pentraxin-3 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in melanoma cells.

During melanoma progression, malignant melanocytes are reprogrammed into mesenchymal-like cells through to an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process associated with the acquisition of an invasive, prometastatic phenotype. The fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2)/FGF receptor (FGFR) system plays a pivotal role in melanoma, leading to autocrine/paracrine induction of tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Long pentraxin-3 (PTX3) interacts with FGF2, and other FGF family members, inhibiting FGF-dependent neovascularization and tumor growth.

Inhibition of angiogenesis by β-galactosylceramidase deficiency in globoid cell leukodystrophy.

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) is a neurological disorder of infants caused by genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme β-galactosylceramidase leading to accumulation of the neurotoxic metabolite 1-β-d-galactosylsphingosine (psychosine) in the central nervous system. Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in the physiology and pathology of the brain. Here, we demonstrate that psychosine has anti-angiogenic properties by causing the disassembling of endothelial cell actin structures at micromolar concentrations as found in the brain of patients with globoid cell leukodystrophy.

Long pentraxin-3 as an epithelial-stromal fibroblast growth factor-targeting inhibitor in prostate cancer.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) exert autocrine/paracrine functions in prostate cancer by stimulating angiogenesis and tumour growth. Here dihydrotestosterone (DHT) up-regulates FGF2 and FGF8b production in murine TRAMP-C2 prostate cancer cells, activating a FGF-dependent autocrine loop of stimulation. The soluble pattern recognition receptor long pentraxin-3 (PTX3) acts as a natural FGF antagonist that binds FGF2 and FGF8b via its N-terminal domain.

Long pentraxin-3 inhibits FGF8b-dependent angiogenesis and growth of steroid hormone-regulated tumors.

Fibroblast growth factor-8b (FGF8b) exerts nonredundant autocrine/paracrine functions in steroid hormone-regulated tumors. Previous observations had shown that the soluble pattern recognition receptor long pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a natural selective antagonist for a restricted number of FGF family members, inhibiting FGF2 but not FGF1 and FGF4 activity. Here, we assessed the capacity of PTX3 to antagonize FGF8b and to inhibit the vascularization and growth of steroid hormone-regulated tumors.

Antiangiogenic activity of a neutralizing human single-chain antibody fragment against fibroblast growth factor receptor 1.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) transduces proangiogenic and proliferative signals in human cancers. Thus, FGFR-1 may represent a target for the development of antiangiogenic/antineoplastic therapies. We screened a human single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody phage display library against the extracellular domain of the FGFR-1-IIIc isoform that harbors the FGF binding site.

New automated and high-throughput quantitative analysis of urinary ketones by multifiber exchange-solid phase microextraction coupled to fast gas chromatography/negative chemical-electron ionization/mass spectrometry.

The present research is focused on automation, miniaturization, and system interaction with high throughput for multiple and specific Direct Immersion-Solid Phase Microextraction/Fast Gas Chromatography analysis of the urinary ketones. The specific Mass Spectrometry instrumentation, capable of supporting such the automated changeover from Negative Chemical to Electron Ionization mode, as well as the automation of the preparation procedure by new device called MultiFiber Exchange, through change of the fibers, allowed a friendly use of mass spectrometry apparatus with a number of advantages including reduced analyst time and greater reproducibility (2.01-5.

Anti-FGF2 approaches as a strategy to compensate resistance to anti-VEGF therapy: long-pentraxin 3 as a novel antiangiogenic FGF2-antagonist.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from the endothelium of the existing vasculature, plays a pivotal role in tumor growth, progression and metastasis. Over the last 30 years, numerous pro- and antiangiogenic molecules, their ligands, and intracellular signaling pathways have been identified, and significant efforts have been undertaken to develop antiangiogenic strategies for cancer therapy. Agents that selectively target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors have shown promising activity in clinical trials and have been approved for use in selected cancer indications.

IL-7 is superior to IL-2 for ex vivo expansion of tumour-specific CD4(+) T cells.

It is well established that tumours hinder both natural and vaccine-induced tumour-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses. Adoptive T-cell therapy has the potential to circumvent functional tolerance and enhance anti-tumour protective responses. While protocols suitable for the expansion of cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells are currently available, data on tumour-specific CD4(+) T cells remain scarce.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 antagonist and antiangiogenic activity of long-pentraxin 3-derived synthetic peptides.

Angiogenesis and inflammation are closely integrated processes. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is a prototypic angiogenesis inducer belonging to the family of the heparin-binding FGF growth factors. FGF2 exerts its pro-angiogenic activity by interacting with various endothelial cell surface receptors, including tyrosine kinase receptors, heparan-sulfate proteoglycans, and integrins.

Delivering cytokines at tumor site: The immunocytokine-conjugated anti-EDB-fibronectin antibody case.

Although considerable efforts have been made in the discovery of new agents for cancer treatment, several promising therapeutics cannot be applied systemically because of their severe side effects. This is the case for various recombinant pro-inflammatory cytokines that, despite their potent anti-cancer activity, can not find their way to clinical exploitation due to their devastating toxicity shown during dose escalation to therapeutically active concentrations. To circumvent these problems, an elegant and efficient way to accumulate therapeutic agents at the tumor site, thus reducing systemic side effects, is their conjugation to tumor-specific antibodies.

alphavbeta3 Integrin-dependent antiangiogenic activity of resveratrol stereoisomers.

Angiogenesis is target for antineoplastic and chemopreventive therapies. The natural phytoalexin resveratrol is found in grapes and red wine as cis and trans stereoisomers. trans-Resveratrol shows antiangiogenic activity, but its mechanism of action is not fully elucidated.

The preparation of pellets containing non-ionic surfactants by extrusion/spheronization.

The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of incorporating non-ionic surfactants into pellets produced from microcrystalline cellulose by the process of extrusion/spheronization and the properties of the pellets. A hydrophilic surfactant, polysorbate 60 (PS 60), and two hydrophobic surfactants, sorbitan monostearate (S 60) and sorbitan monooleate (S 80), were included in the water used to form the pellets in concentrations ranging from 5 to 95%. The presence of the surfactants influenced the type of the extrusion profile and improved the ability to provide round pellets, and the addition of the surfactants changed the range of liquid levels required to prepare the pellets.

Determination of organic acids in urine by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry previous 'in sample' derivatization with trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate.

A method for the determination of the organic acids directly in the urine employing derivatization with trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate as a methylating agent and sequential extraction by head space and direct immersion/solid phase microextraction is reported. Furoic acid, hippuric acid, methylhippuric acid, mandelic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid and trans, trans muconic acid contained in urine and proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists as biological exposure indices were determined after a fast and economically convenient preparation step and sensitive gas chromatography-ion trap-mass spectrometry/tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Urine is rather a complex sample and hence the acquisition method required specific GC-MS instrumentation capable of supporting the changeover, fully automated during a single chromatographic separation, from mass to tandem mass spectrometry and both chemical and electron ionization modes.

Synthetic CD4+ T cell-targeted antigen-presenting cells elicit protective antitumor responses.

CD4(+) helper T cells are critical for protective immune responses and yet suboptimally primed in response to tumors. Cell-based vaccination strategies are under evaluation in clinical trials but limited by the need to derive antigen-presenting cells (APC) from patients or compatible healthy donors. To overcome these limitations, we developed CD4(+) T cell-targeted synthetic microbead-based artificial APC (aAPC) and used them to activate CD4(+) T lymphocytes specific for a tumor-associated model antigen (Ag) directly from the naive repertoire.

Supercritical antisolvent precipitation of nimesulide: preliminary experiments.

The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the physico-chemical properties of nimesulide precipitated by continuous supercritical antisolvent (SAS) from different organic solvents like acetone, chloroform and dichloromethane at 40 degrees C and 80, 85 and 88 bar, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-Ray diffractometry and in vitro dissolution tests were employed to study how the technological process and the solvent nature would affect the final product. SAS-processed nimesulide particles showed dramatic morphological change in crystalline structure if compared to native nimesulide, resulting in needle and thin rods shaped crystals.

Uptake of 18F-Fluorocholine, 18F-FET, and 18F-FDG in C6 gliomas and correlation with 131I-SIP(L19), a marker of angiogenesis.

Unlabelled: Targeting extracellular structures that are involved in angiogenic processes, such as the extra domain B of fibronectin, is a promising approach for the diagnosis of solid tumors. The aim of this study was to determine uptake of the (18)F-labeled PET tracers (18)F-fluorocholine (N,N-dimethyl-N-(18)F-fluoromethyl-2-hydroxyethylammonium), (18)F-fluoro-ethyl-l-tyrosine (FET), and (18)F-FDG in C6 gliomas of the rat and to correlate it with uptake of the anti-extra domain B antibody (131)I-SIP(L19) as a marker of neoangiogenesis.

Methods: C6 gliomas were orthotopically induced in 17 rats.

Selective occlusion of tumor blood vessels by targeted delivery of an antibody-photosensitizer conjugate.

The irregular vasculature and high interstitial pressure of solid tumors hinder the delivery of cytotoxic agents to cancer cells. As a consequence, the doses of chemotherapy necessary to achieve complete tumor eradication are associated with unacceptably high toxicities. The selective thrombosis of tumor blood vessels has been postulated as an alternative avenue for combating cancer, depriving tumors of nutrients and oxygen and causing an avalanche of tumor cell deaths.

Molecular imaging of atherosclerotic plaques using a human antibody against the extra-domain B of fibronectin.

Current imaging modalities of human atherosclerosis, such as angiography, ultrasound, and computed tomography, visualize plaque morphology. However, methods that provide insight into plaque biology using molecular tools are still insufficient. The extra-domain B (ED-B) is inserted into the fibronectin molecule by alternative splicing during angiogenesis and tissue remodeling but is virtually undetectable in normal adult tissues.

Engineering a thermostable human prolyl endopeptidase for antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy.

We present a new antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy strategy (ADEPT) based on a post-proline cleaving endopeptidase and prodrugs, in which cytotoxic moieties are linked to a proline-containing peptide. Human prolyl endopeptidase was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme was active in buffer and in human serum but was rapidly thermally inactivated by incubation at 37 degrees C, thus preventing applications in vivo.

Molecular targeting of angiogenesis.

The majority of pharmacological approaches for the treatment of solid tumors suffer from poor selectivity, thus limiting dose escalation (i.e., the doses of drug which are required to kill tumor cells cause unacceptable toxicities to normal tissues).

Study of the solid state of carbamazepine after processing with gas anti-solvent technique.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of supercritical CO2 processing on the physico-chemical properties of carbamazepine, a poorly soluble drug. The gas anti-solvent (GAS) technique was used to precipitate the drug from three different solvents (acetone, ethylacetate and dichloromethane) to study how they would affect the final product. The samples were analysed before and after treatment by scanning electron microscopy analysis and laser granulometry for possible changes in the habitus of the crystals.

Eustrongylidiasis--a parasitic infection acquired by eating live minnows.

The objective of this study was to heighten physician awareness of eustrongylidiasis by investigating the epidemiology of this parasitic infection. The nematode Eustrongylides ignotus was recovered surgically from our patient, in whom eustrongylidiasis simulated acute appendicitis. The patient had consumed two live minnows obtained from Big Timber Creek of Belmawr, NJ.

Oral ofloxacin for the treatment of acute bacterial pneumonia: use of a nontraditional protocol to compare experimental therapy with "usual care" in a multicenter clinical trial.

Purpose: This multicenter study was designed to compare an exclusively oral regimen with "usual care" in patients hospitalized with acute bacterial pneumonia.

Patients And Methods: One hundred forty-seven patients were enrolled. All patients presented with a clinical picture consistent with pneumonia: (1) clinical symptoms of a lower respiratory tract infection, such as chest pain, cough, and production of purulent sputum; (2) roentgenographic infiltrate compatible with acute infection; and (3) Gram's stain of purulent sputum or other appropriate bronchopulmonary specimen containing gram-negative organisms, staphylococci, or pneumococci.