Potential of amphiphilic graft copolymer α-tocopherol succinate-g-carboxymethyl chitosan in modulating the permeability and anticancer efficacy of tamoxifen.

Recent studies showed an enhanced oral bioavailability of tamoxifen (TMX) by hydrophobically modified α-tocopherol succinate-g-carboxymethyl chitosan (Cmc-TS) micelles. As a continued effort, here we evaluated TMX-loaded polymeric micelles (TMX-PMs) for its enhanced permeability with increased anticancer efficacy and decreased hepatotoxicity. We employed co-solvent evaporation technique to encapsulate TMX into Cmc-TS.

Dermatomyositis and HIV.

HIV has been linked to several autoimmune disorders since its emergence in the 1980s. By affecting different cells and pathways in the immune system, HIV induces the development of certain autoimmune diseases while prohibiting the emergence of others. Dermatomyositis has been rarely described in patients with HIV.

Insidious Risk of Severe Mycobacterium chimaera Infection in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Background: An urgent UK investigation was launched to assess risk of invasive Mycobacterium chimaera infection in cardiothoracic surgery and a possible association with cardiopulmonary bypass heater-cooler units following alerts in Switzerland and The Netherlands.

Methods: Parallel investigations were pursued: (1) identification of cardiopulmonary bypass-associated M. chimaera infection through national laboratory and hospital admissions data linkage; (2) cohort study to assess patient risk; (3) microbiological and aerobiological investigations of heater-coolers in situ and under controlled laboratory conditions; and (4) whole-genome sequencing of clinical and environmental isolates.

Radiotherapy for elderly patients and cetuximab, a monocentric study.

Concomitant radiotherapy and cetuximab association has shown superiority to exclusive radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Data on this association are scarce for the elderly population despite its rising incidence. A retrospective monocentric data collection was performed in the Antoine Lacassagne Cancer Center in France.

Defining response to radiotherapy in rectal cancer using magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological scales.

Aim: To define good and poor regression using pathology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) regression scales after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was performed on all studies up to December 2015, without language restriction, that were identified from MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (1960-2015), and EMBASE (1991-2015). Searches were performed of article bibliographies and conference abstracts.

Alpha-lipoic acid-stearylamine conjugate-based solid lipid nanoparticles for tamoxifen delivery: formulation, optimization, in-vivo pharmacokinetic and hepatotoxicity study.

Objectives: This study was designed to demonstrate the potential of novel α-lipoic acid-stearylamine (ALA-SA) conjugate-based solid lipid nanoparticles in modulating the pharmacokinetics and hepatotoxicity of tamoxifen (TMX).

Methods: α-lipoic acid-stearylamine bioconjugate was synthesized via carbodiimide chemistry and used as a lipid moiety for the generation of TMX-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (TMX-SLNs). TMX-SLNs were prepared by solvent emulsification-diffusion method and optimized for maximum drug loading using rotatable central composite design.

Adjuvant chemotherapy may improve disease-free survival in patients with rectal cancer positive for MRI-detected extramural venous invasion following chemoradiation.

Aim: MRI-detected extramural venous invasion (mrEMVI) is a poor prognostic factor in rectal cancer. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) can cause regression in the severity of EMVI and subsequently improve survival whereas mrEMVI persisting after CRT confers an increased risk of recurrence. The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) following CRT on survival in rectal cancer remains unclear.

Current epidemiology of tetanus in England, 2001-2014.

Public Health England conducts enhanced national surveillance of tetanus, a potentially life-threatening vaccine-preventable disease. A standardized questionnaire was used to ascertain clinical and demographic details of individuals reported with clinically suspected tetanus. The 96 cases identified between 2001 and 2014 were analysed.

[Radiotherapy of benign intracranial tumors].

Most of the benign intracranial tumors are meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, and glomus tumors. Some of them grow very slowly, and can be observed without specific treatment, especially if they are asymptomatic. Symptomatic or growing tumors are treated by surgery, which is the reference treatment.

Interobserver agreement of radiologists assessing the response of rectal cancers to preoperative chemoradiation using the MRI tumour regression grading (mrTRG).

Aim: To investigate whether the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tumour regression grading (mrTRG) scale can be taught effectively resulting in a clinically reasonable interobserver agreement (>0.4; moderate to near perfect agreement).

Materials And Methods: This study examines the interobserver agreement of mrTRG, between 35 radiologists and a central reviewer.

Synthesis and evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of novel 2-phenyl-quinoline analogs derivatized at position 4 with aromatically substituted 4H-1,2,4-triazoles.

A set of novel quinolone-triazole conjugates (12-31) were synthesized in three steps in good yields starting from 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid. All the intermediates, as well as the final 1,2,4-triazolyl quinolines were fully characterized by their detailed spectral analysis utilizing different techniques such as IR, H NMR, C NMR, and finally mass spectrometry. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their potential antibacterial activity and their preliminary safety profile was assessed through cytotoxicity assay.

Novel aminoalkylated azaphenothiazines as potential inhibitors of T98G, H460 and SNU80 cancer cell lines in vitro.

A set of twenty-one novel aminoalkylated azaphenothiazines is synthesized using a two-step methodology starting from azaphenothiazines. The key step was the selective monoalkylation at position 10 of azaphenothiazines. In all, twenty-five molecules, including intermediates, were investigated for their in vitro anticancer activity, of which fourteen azaphenothiazines (2b, 3a, 3c, 3d, 3e-h, 3j, 3n, 3o, 3p, 3s, and 3u) were found to decrease the metabolic viability and growth of the T98G, H460 and SNU80 cancer cells effectively in a dose-dependent manner.

The index of orthognathic functional treatment need accurately prioritises those patients already selected for orthognathic surgery within the NHS.

The index of orthognathic functional treatment need (IOFTN) is a newly-proposed system to help to prioritise patients for orthognathic treatment. The five categories are similar to those used in orthodontics, but include additional parameters such as sleep apnoea and facial asymmetry. The aim of this audit was to validate the index and find out the potential future implications, should such a system ever be adopted by commissioners.

FDG PET/CT Can Assess the Response of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: Evidence From Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is indicated in locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma where there is a high risk of local recurrence based on preoperative imaging. Optimal radiological assessment of CRT response is unknown, and metabolic assessment of the tumor has been suggested to gauge response before surgical resection.

Patients And Methods: A systematic search of the MEDLINE database was performed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement to identify papers comparing pre- and post-CRT PET/CT in patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma with histopathological assessment of tumor regression.

Induction chemotherapy-based larynx preservation program for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer: oncologic and functional outcomes and prognostic factors.

To evaluate oncologic and functional outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer included in an induction chemotherapy (ICT)-based larynx preservation program in daily clinical practice. All patients with locally advanced (T3/4, N0-3, M0) hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, technically suitable for total pharyngo-laryngectomy, treated by docetaxel (75 mg/m(2), day 1), cisplatin (75 mg/m(2), day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (750 mg/m(2)/day, day 1-5) (TPF)-ICT (2-3 cycles) for larynx preservation at our institution between 2004 and 2013, were included in this retrospective study. Prognostic factors of oncologic (overall, cause-specific and recurrence-free survival: OS, SS and RFS) and functional (dysphagia outcome and severity scale, permanent enteral nutrition, larynx preservation) outcomes were assessed in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Systematic review of prognostic importance of extramural venous invasion in rectal cancer.

Aim: To systematically review the survival outcomes relating to extramural venous invasion in rectal cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. An electronic search was carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane library databases, Google scholar and PubMed until October 2014.

The influence of peri-operative factors for accelerated discharge following laparoscopic colorectal surgery when combined with an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway.

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery is well established in the modern management of colorectal disease. More recently, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been introduced to further promote accelerated discharge and faster recovery. However, not all patients are suitable for early discharge.

Obese patients have similar short-term outcomes to non-obese in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Aim: To determine whether obese patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery within an enhanced recovery program had worse short-term outcomes.

Methods: A prospective study of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection was carried out between 2008 and 2011 in a single institution. Patients were divided in groups based on body mass index (BMI).

Nutritional status and feeding-tube placement in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer included in an induction chemotherapy-based larynx preservation program.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the nutritional status and determine its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer included in an induction chemotherapy (ICT)-based larynx preservation program without prophylactic feeding-tube placement. All patients with locally advanced (T3/4, N0-3, M0) hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, technically suitable for total pharyngolaryngectomy, treated by docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF)-ICT for larynx preservation at our institution between 2004 and 2013, were included in this retrospective study. Patients' nutritional status was closely monitored.

Translocation-coupled DNA cleavage by the Type ISP restriction-modification enzymes.

Production of endonucleolytic double-strand DNA breaks requires separate strand cleavage events. Although catalytic mechanisms for simple, dimeric endonucleases are known, there are many complex nuclease machines that are poorly understood. Here we studied the single polypeptide Type ISP restriction-modification (RM) enzymes, which cleave random DNA between distant target sites when two enzymes collide after convergent ATP-driven translocation.

Salvage surgery for recurrent oropharyngeal cancer: post-operative oncologic and functional outcomes.

Conclusion: Post-operative outcomes of salvage surgery for recurrent oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (OPSCC) were acceptable. Pathologic overall, T- or N-stage and patient comorbidities were the main predictors of patient clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate post-operative outcomes of salvage surgery in patients with recurrent OPSCC and to determine their predictive factors.