Yersinia enterocolitica associated myopericarditis: case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of myopericarditis associated with Yersinia enterocolitica infection in an otherwise well 50-year-old man. We discuss the clinical features, microbiology and treatment of this rare cause of myopericarditis.

Falcine meningioma masquerading as biliary colic - Case report and literature review.

Right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain and discomfort is a common presenting complaint often associated with abdominal pathology. We report a rare presentation of structural intracranial pathology in a patient initially presenting with RUQ abdominal discomfort. While initial investigations concentrating on abdominal causes revealed no likely culprit, progression of symptoms to involve right lower limb weakness eventually prompted the patient's re-presentation and eventual definitive diagnosis.

Anxiolytic effects of acute and maintenance ketamine, as assessed by the Fear Questionnaire subscales and the Spielberger State Anxiety Rating Scale.

Background: Ketamine has rapid anxiolytic effects in treatment-resistant obsessive compulsive, post-traumatic stress, generalised anxiety and social anxiety disorders.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess changes following acute and maintenance ketamine therapy on the Fear Questionnaire (FQ) subscales and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (SSAI).

Methods: This secondary analysis used data from a mixed open-label and double-blinded placebo-controlled study.

Raloxifene nano-micelles effect on triple-negative breast cancer is mediated through estrogen receptor-β and epidermal growth factor receptor.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that differs in progression, recurrence, and prognosis from other forms of breast cancer. The heterogeneity of TNBC has remained a challenge as no targeted therapy is currently available. Previously, we and others have demonstrated that raloxifene, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, was also acting independently of the oestrogen receptor-α.

Micellar formulations of Crizotinib and Dasatinib in the management of glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) defies the currently practiced management of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery and hence, it is associated with a high fatality rate with a median survival of 14.6 months. In our previous work investigating different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), we established that a combination of Crizotinib and Dasatinib exerted the most potent effect on different GBM cell lines.

ALK and IGF-1R as independent targets in crizotinib resistant lung cancer.

ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer is highly responsive to ALK inhibitors such as crizotinib, but drug resistance typically develops within a year of treatment. In this study we investigated whether IGF-1R is an independent druggable target in ALK-positive lung cancer cells. We confirmed that combination ALK and IGF-1R inhibitor treatment is synergistically cytotoxic to ALK-positive lung cancer cells and that this remains the case for at least 12 days after initial exposure to crizotinib.

Styrene maleic acid-encapsulated paclitaxel micelles: antitumor activity and toxicity studies following oral administration in a murine orthotopic colon cancer model.

Oral administration of paclitaxel (PTX), a broad spectrum anticancer agent, is challenged by its low uptake due to its poor bioavailability, efflux through P-glycoprotein, and gastrointestinal toxicity. We synthesized PTX nanomicelles using poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) (SMA). Oral administration of SMA-PTX micelles doubled the maximum tolerated dose (60 mg/kg vs 30 mg/kg) compared to the commercially available PTX formulation (PTX [Ebewe]).

Prospects of Nanocarriers for Oral Delivery of Bioactives Using Targeting Strategies.

The oral route is the preferred mode of administration, however the poor intestinal absorption of many bioactive compounds limit their efficacy. Several strategies have been developed to overcome the low oral bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Nanocarriers present a unique opportunity to overcome this limitation due to their diverse bioactive carriage potential, surface functionality and design flexibility.

A combination of sorafenib and nilotinib reduces the growth of castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains incurable due to the lack of effective therapies. Several tyrosine kinases have been implicated in the development and growth of CRPC, as such targeting these kinases may offer an alternative therapeutic strategy. We established the combination of two tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), sorafenib and nilotinib, as the most cytotoxic.

A combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, crizotinib and dasatinib for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor. Despite the advances in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, patient survival averages only 14.6 months.

The Use of Styrene Maleic Acid Nanomicelles Encapsulating the Synthetic Cannabinoid Analog WIN55,212-2 for the Treatment of Cancer.

Unlabelled: Synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 (WIN) has shown a promise as an anticancer agent but causes psychoactive side-effects. In the present study, nano-micelles of styrene maleic acid (SMA)-conjugated WIN were synthesized to reduce side-effects and increase drug efficacy. SMA-WIN micelles were characterised and their in vitro cytotoxic effect was compared to that of free WIN against triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (MCF-7) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC3) cell lines.

Styrene maleic acid micelles as a nanocarrier system for oral anticancer drug delivery - dual uptake through enterocytes and M-cells.

Drug delivery systems could potentially overcome low bioavailability and gastrointestinal toxicity, which are the major challenges for the development of oral anticancer drugs. Herein, we demonstrate the ability of styrene maleic acid (SMA) nanomicelles encapsulating epirubicin to traverse in vitro and ex vivo models of the intestinal epithelium without affecting the tissue integrity. Further, SMA micelles encapsulating a fluorescent dye dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) showed twofold higher accumulation in the liver and spleen, 15-fold higher accumulation in the tumor, and sixfold higher accumulation in the lung as compared with the free DiI, following oral administration in a mice xenograft breast cancer model.

Effect of styrene maleic acid WIN55,212-2 micelles on neuropathic pain in a rat model.

Cannabinoid receptor agonists are moderately effective at reducing neuropathic pain but are limited by psychoactivity. We developed a styrene maleic acid (SMA) based on the cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) and tested in a rat model of neuropathic pain and in the rotarod test. We hypothesized that miceller preparation can ensure prolonged plasma half-life being above the renal threshold of excretion.

Nanomedicine for drug targeting: strategies beyond the enhanced permeability and retention effect.

The growing research interest in nanomedicine for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory-related pathologies is yielding encouraging results. Unfortunately, enthusiasm is tempered by the limited specificity of the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Factors such as lack of cellular specificity, low vascular density, and early release of active agents prior to reaching their target contribute to the limitations of the enhanced permeability and retention effect.

A novel role for raloxifene nanomicelles in management of castrate resistant prostate cancer.

Of patients with castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), less than 25-33% survive more than five years. Recent studies have implicated estrogen, acting either alone or synergistically with androgens in the development of castrate resistant prostate cancer. Several in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as a limited number of clinical trials, have highlighted the potential of selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as raloxifene (Ral) for the treatment of castrate resistant prostate cancer.

Curcumin-derivative nanomicelles for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by its poor outcome and a lack of targeted therapies. Recently, our laboratory has developed a second generation curcumin derivative, 3,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)-1-methylpiperidine-4-one (RL71) that shows potent in vitro cytotoxicity. RL71 is hydrophobic with poor bioavailability which limits its clinical development.

Anticancer nanomedicine and tumor vascular permeability; Where is the missing link?

Anticancer nanomedicine was coined to describe anticancer delivery systems such as polymer conjugates, liposomes, micelles, and metal nanoparticles. These anticancer delivery platforms have been developed with the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect as a central mechanism for tumor targeting. EPR based nanomedicine has demonstrated, beyond doubt, to selectively target tumor tissues in animal models.