BT-11 repurposing potential for Alzheimer's disease and insights into its mode of actions.

Neuroinflammation is a key pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Investigational and FDA approved drugs targeting inflammation already exist, thus drug repurposing for AD is a suitable approach. BT-11 is an investigational drug that reduces inflammation in the gut and improves cognitive function.

Digital Neuropsychology beyond Computerized Cognitive Assessment: Applications of Novel Digital Technologies.

Compared with other health disciplines, there is a stagnation in technological innovation in the field of clinical neuropsychology. Traditional paper-and-pencil tests have a number of shortcomings, such as low-frequency data collection and limitations in ecological validity. While computerized cognitive assessment may help overcome some of these issues, current computerized paradigms do not address the majority of these limitations.

Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Rectal Cancer: Multi-center Comparison of Induction Chemotherapy and Long-Course Chemoradiation Versus Short-Course Radiation and Consolidative Chemotherapy.

Background: Total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer may include induction chemotherapy and chemoradiation or short-course radiotherapy and consolidative chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients with clinical stage 2 or 3 rectal cancer who received induction chemotherapy followed by long-course chemoradiation at the University of Colorado (2016-2020) or short-course radiotherapy followed by consolidative chemotherapy at Washington University (2017-2020) were assessed.

Results: Eighty-four patients received induction chemotherapy and chemoradiation and 83 received short-course radiotherapy and consolidative chemotherapy.

Social vulnerability is associated with increased morbidity following colorectal surgery.

Introduction: Neighborhood measures of social vulnerability encompassing multiple sociodemographic factors can be used to quantify disparities in outcomes. We hypothesize patients with high Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) are at increased risk of morbidity following colectomy.

Methods: We used local 2012-2017 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data to study colectomy patients, examining associations between SVI and postoperative outcomes.

Rectal Cancer: Clinical and Molecular Predictors of a Complete Response to Total Neoadjuvant Therapy.

Background: Total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer may increase pathological complete response rates, potentially allowing for a nonoperative approach.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify patient and tumor characteristics that predict a complete response following total neoadjuvant therapy.

Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Developing the Ce and La pair as companion positron emission tomography diagnostic isotopes for Ac and Th radiotherapeutics.

Developing targeted α-therapies has the potential to transform how diseases are treated. In these interventions, targeting vectors are labelled with α-emitting radioisotopes that deliver destructive radiation discretely to diseased cells while simultaneously sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. Widespread implementation requires advances in non-invasive imaging technologies that rapidly assay therapeutics.

A reverse U/Th radionuclide generator for targeted alpha therapy applications.

Purpose: Thorium-226 (half-life 30.6 m) is a radionuclide of interest for use in targeted alpha therapy applications. Due to its short half-life, Th must be provided through a radionuclide generator system from its parent U (20.

Extraction chromatography of Ac and lanthanides on N,N-dioctyldiglycolamic acid /1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide solvent impregnated resin.

The alpha-emitter Ac (t = 9.92 d) is currently under development for targeted alpha-particle therapy of cancer, and accelerator production of Ac via proton irradiation of thorium targets requires robust separations of Ac from chemically similar fission product lanthanides. Additionally, the lanthanide elements represent critical components in modern technologies, and radiolanthanides such as Nd (t = 3.

A Solid-State Support for Separating Astatine-211 from Bismuth.

Increasing access to the short-lived α-emitting radionuclide astatine-211 (At) has the potential to advance targeted α-therapeutic treatment of disease and to solve challenges facing the medical community. For example, there are numerous technical needs associated with advancing the use of At in targeted α-therapy, e.g.

Production of Pa by proton irradiation of Th at the LANL isotope production facility: Precursor of U for targeted alpha therapy.

Uranium-230 (t = 20.8 d) is an alpha-emitting radionuclide that has potential application in targeted alpha therapy (TAT) of cancer. Its parent isotope Pa (t = 17.

Large-Scale Production of Te and Sb for Radiopharmaceutical Applications.

Radionuclides find widespread use in medical technologies for treating and diagnosing disease. Among successful and emerging radiotherapeutics, Sb has unique potential in targeted therapeutic applications for low-energy electron-emitting isotopes. Unfortunately, developing Sb-based drugs has been slow in comparison to other radionuclides, primarily due to limited accessibility.

Improved survival in rectal cancer patients who are treated with long-course versus short-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy: A propensity-matched analysis of the NCDB.

Background: Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated comparable survival outcomes for short-course (SCRT) and long-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy (LCRT) in patients with rectal cancer.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Data Base (2004-2015), a propensity score was used to match 188 patients with rectal cancer receiving SCRT to 376 patients receiving LCRT. Perioperative, oncologic, and survival outcomes were compared.

Impact of a Novel Surgical Wound Protection Device on Observed versus Expected Surgical Site Infection Rates after Colectomy Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Risk Calculator.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) remains a persistent and morbid problem in colorectal surgery. A novel surgical device that combines barrier surgical wound protection and continuous surgical wound irrigation was evaluated in a cohort of elective colorectal surgery patients. A retrospective analysis was performed comparing rates of SSI observed in a prospective cohort study with the predicted rate of SSI using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Risk Calculator.

Disease-free Survival and Local Recurrence for Laparoscopic Resection Compared With Open Resection of Stage II to III Rectal Cancer: Follow-up Results of the ACOSOG Z6051 Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To determine the disease-free survival (DFS) and recurrence after the treatment of patients with rectal cancer with open (OPEN) or laparoscopic (LAP) resection.

Background: This randomized clinical trial (ACOSOG [Alliance] Z6051), performed between 2008 and 2013, compared LAP and OPEN resection of stage II/III rectal cancer, within 12 cm of the anal verge (T1-3, N0-2, M0) in patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The rectum and mesorectum were resected using open instruments for rectal dissection (included hybrid hand-assisted laparoscopic) or with laparoscopic instruments under pneumoperitoneum.

Combined rectopexy and sacrocolpopexy is safe for correction of pelvic organ prolapse.

Purpose: Pelvic floor abnormalities often affect multiple organs. The incidence of concomitant uterine/vaginal prolapse with rectal prolapse is at least 38%. For these patients, addition of sacrocolpopexy to rectopexy may be appropriate.

Separation of Protactinium Employing Sulfur-Based Extraction Chromatographic Resins.

Protactinium-230 ( t = 17.4 d) is the parent isotope of U ( t = 20.8 d), a radionuclide of interest for targeted alpha therapy (TAT).

Synthesis and radiometric evaluation of diglycolamide functionalized mesoporous silica for the chromatographic separation of actinides Th, Pa and U.

The separation of Th, Pa, and U is of high importance in many applications including nuclear power, nuclear waste, environmental and geochemistry, nuclear forensics and nuclear medicine. Diglycolamide (DGA)-based resins have shown the ability to separate many elements, however, these resins consist of non-covalent impregnation of the DGA molecules on the resin backbone resulting in co-elution of the extraction molecule during separation cycles, therefore limiting their long-term and repeated use. Covalently binding the DGA molecules onto silica is one way to overcome this issue.

A Novel Wound Retractor Combining Continuous Irrigation and Barrier Protection Reduces Incisional Contamination in Colorectal Surgery.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) remains a persistent and morbid problem in colorectal surgery. Key to its pathogenesis is the degree of intraoperative bacterial contamination at the surgical site. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel wound retractor at reducing bacterial contamination.