PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Targeted Photoactivable Liposomes (iTPALs) Prime the Stroma of Pancreatic Tumors and Promote Self-Delivery.

Desmoplasia in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) limits the penetration and efficacy of therapies. It has been previously shown that photodynamic priming (PDP) using EGFR targeted photoactivable multi-inhibitor liposomes remediates desmoplasia in PDAC and doubles overall survival. Here, bifunctional PD-L1 immune checkpoint targeted photoactivable liposomes (iTPALs) that mediate both PDP and PD-L1 blockade are presented.

Racial and Ethnic Demographic Reporting in Phase 2 Proton Therapy Clinical Trials: A Review.

Purpose: Equitable inclusion of racial and ethnic participation in clinical trials is crucial to improving disparities in health care, especially for historically marginalized populations. Our study aims to describe the racial and ethnic demographics of patients enrolled in published phase 2 clinical trials involving proton therapy in the United States.

Materials And Methods: Published manuscripts were identified in PubMed, Embase, World of Science, and Cochrane.

A single photodynamic priming protocol augments delivery of ⍺-PD-L1 mAbs and induces immunogenic cell death in head and neck tumors.

Photodynamic priming (PDP) leverages the photobiological effects of subtherapeutic photodynamic therapy (PDT) regimens to modulate the tumor vasculature and stroma. PDP also sensitizes tumors to secondary therapies, such as immunotherapy by inducing a cascade of molecular events, including immunogenic cell death (ICD). We and others have shown that PDP improves the delivery of antibodies, among other theranostic agents.

The 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index Score Predicts Return to the Operating Room for Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion for Traumatic Spine Injury.

Objective: Within the trauma spine surgery literature, the effect of patient frailty on postoperative outcomes for posterior spinal fusion (PSF) remains clear. In this study, the authors quantified the influence of the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) score on hospital length of stay, diagnosis of a postoperative infection, 30-day readmission, and 90-day return to operating room (OR).

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with traumatic spine injury undergoing PSF by a single surgeon at our institution from 2016 to 2021.

Low Radiologic Sensitivity in Detecting Radiation-Associated Breast Angiosarcoma (RAS).

Due to its rarity, literature pertaining to radiation-associated breast angiosarcoma (RAS) remains sparse, with most studies focusing on retrospective review. Of more significant concern is the ambiguity of screening recommendations and modalities used to detect RAS, with current guidelines focusing on yearly mammographic imaging for women who underwent lumpectomy with radiation. Unfortunately, routine post-cancer screening has demonstrated low sensitivity in detecting RAS, often mistaking it for benign changes in roughly half of cases.

Establishing a Robust and Reliable Response from a Potent Osmium-Based Photosensitizer Via Lipid Nanoformulation.

Osmium (Os) based photosensitizers (PSs) are a unique class of nontetrapyrrolic metal-containing PSs that absorb red light. We recently reported a highly potent Os(II) PS, rac-[Os(phen) (IP-4T)](Cl) , referred to as ML18J03 herein, with light EC values as low as 20 pm. ML18J03 also exhibits low dark toxicity and submicromolar light EC values in hypoxia in some cell lines.

Towards Photodynamic Image-Guided Surgery of Head and Neck Tumors: Photodynamic Priming Improves Delivery and Diagnostic Accuracy of Cetuximab-IRDye800CW.

Fluorescence image-guided surgery (IGS) using antibody conjugates of the fluorophore IRDye800CW have revolutionized the surgical debulking of tumors. Cetuximab, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody, conjugated to IRDye800CW (Cet-IRDye800) is the first molecular targeted antibody probe to be used for IGS in head and neck cancer patients. In addition to surgical debulking, Cetuximab-targeted photodynamic therapy (photoimmunotherapy; PIT) is emerging in the clinic as a powerful modality for head and neck tumor photodestruction.

The distribution and chemical coding of enteroendocrine cells in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals with chagasic megacolon.

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi that causes chronic cardiac and digestive dysfunction. Megacolon, an irreversible dilation of the left colon, is the main feature of the gastrointestinal form of Chagas disease. Patients have severe constipation, a consequence of enteric neuron degeneration associated with chronic inflammation.

Distribution and co-expression patterns of specific cell markers of enteroendocrine cells in pig gastric epithelium.

Although the pig is an accepted model species for human digestive physiology, no previous study of the pig gastric mucosa and gastric enteroendocrine cells has investigated the parallels between pig and human. In this study, we have investigated markers for each of the classes of gastric endocrine cells, gastrin, ghrelin, somatostatin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histidine decarboxylase, and PYY cells in pig stomach. The lining of the proximal stomach consisted of a collar of stratified squamous epithelium surrounded by gastric cardiac glands in the fundus.

Relationships of endocrine cells to each other and to other cell types in the human gastric fundus and corpus.

Gastric endocrine cell hormones contribute to the control of the stomach and to signalling to the brain. In other gut regions, enteroendocrine cells (EECs) exhibit extensive patterns of colocalisation of hormones. In the current study, we characterise EECs in the human gastric fundus and corpus.

Heterogeneity of enterochromaffin cells within the gastrointestinal tract.

Enterochromaffin cells were the first endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract to be chemically distinguished, almost 150 years ago. It is now known that the chromaffin reaction of these cells was due to their content of the reactive aromatic amine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, also known as serotonin). They have commonly been thought to be a special class of gut endocrine cells (enteroendocrine cells) that are distinct from the enteroendocrine cells that contain peptide hormones.

Distribution and characterisation of CCK containing enteroendocrine cells of the mouse small and large intestine.

There is general consensus that enteroendocrine cells, EEC, containing the enteric hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) are confined to the small intestine and predominate in the duodenum and jejunum. Contrary to this, EEC that express the gene for CCK have been isolated from the large intestine of the mouse and there is evidence for EEC that contain CCK-like immunoreactivity in the mouse colon. However, the human and rat colons do not contain CCK cells.

Analysis of enteroendocrine cell populations in the human colon.

Recent studies have shown that patterns of colocalisation of hormones in enteroendocrine cells are more complex than previously appreciated and that the patterns differ substantially between species. In this study, the human sigmoid colon is investigated by immunohistochemistry for the presence of gastrointestinal hormones and their colocalisation. The segments of colon were distant from the pathology that led to colectomy and appeared structurally normal.

The chemical coding of 5-hydroxytryptamine containing enteroendocrine cells in the mouse gastrointestinal tract.

The majority of 5-HT (serotonin) in the body is contained in enteroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa. From the time of their discovery over 80 years ago, the 5-HT-containing cells have been regarded as a class of cell that is distinct from enteroendocrine cells that contain peptide hormones. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the concept of there being distinct classes of enteroendocrine cells, each containing a single hormone or occasionally more than one hormone.

Palmitoylethanolamide, a Natural Retinoprotectant: Its Putative Relevance for the Treatment of Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Retinopathy is a threat to the eyesight, and glaucoma and diabetes are the main causes for the damage of retinal cells. Recent insights pointed out a common pathogenetic pathway for both disorders, based on chronic inflammation. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous cell protective lipid.

Aromatic lipoxin A4 and lipoxin B4 analogues display potent biological activities.

Lipoxins are a group of biologically active eicosanoids typically formed by transcellular lipoxygenase activity. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and Lipoxin B4 (LXB4) biosynthesis has been detected in a variety of inflammatory conditions. The native lipoxins LXA4 and LXB4 demonstrate potent antiinflammatory and proresolution bioactions.

The hypoechoic band: a normal finding on testicular sonography.

High-resolution sonograms were obtained in 119 patients in whom intrascrotal disease was suspected on the basis of history and physical findings. In 20 of these patients, a total of 22 conspicuous hypoechoic intratesticular bands (18 unilateral and four bilateral) were seen in the middle third of the testicle on scans obtained axially or slightly oblique to conventional axial scans. The bands were up to 3 mm wide and 3 cm long.

Intestinal duplication in a patient with neurofibromatosis: aid of ultrasound and CT scan in diagnosis.

A 5-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis is described, whose symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting were due to an intestinal duplication. Intestinal duplication has not been previously reported as a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in neurofibromatosis. The utilization of ultrasound and computerized tomography scan as useful modalities for the diagnosis of duplication of the bowel is described.

Sonography of autonomous follicular ovarian cysts in precocious pseudopuberty.

Isolated follicular cysts of the ovary without elevated gonadotropin levels can occur as the primary source of early pubertal changes in young girls. To date, cyst excision or oophorectomy have been the treatments of choice. We studied three girls aged 5 to 8 7/12 years who presented with sexual precocity and revealed autonomous functioning ovarian cysts (2.

Sonographic findings in a case of cloverleaf skull deformity and prune belly.

A rare case of cloverleaf skull is reported that was not diagnosed in utero. The case is more unusual because it was not associated with hydrocephalus and was associated with prune belly.