Perioperative Management for Rectal Migration of a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt.

While ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the most commonly performed surgical procedure for treating hydrocephalus, complications following shunt placement are associated with a high mortality rate. Preoperative medical optimization and surgery are the primary means of correcting shunt migration. We present the case of an 11-week-old patient who underwent emergent surgical intervention for transrectal VPS migration and associated infection.

Sensitization of pancreatic cancer cells to radiation by cerium oxide nanoparticle-induced ROS production.

Unlabelled: Side effect of radiation therapy (RT) remains the most challenging issue for pancreatic cancer treatment. In this report we determined whether and how cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to RT. CONP pretreatment enhanced radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production preferentially in acidic cell-free solutions as well as acidic human pancreatic cancer cells.

Small molecule tolfenamic acid inhibits PC-3 cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and tumor growth in orthotopic mouse model for prostate cancer.

Background: Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors are implicated in critical cellular and molecular processes associated with cancer that impact tumor growth and metastasis. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, tolfenamic acid (TA) is known to inhibit Sp proteins in some human cancer cells and laboratory animal models. We evaluated the anti-cancer activity of TA using in vitro and in vivo models for prostate cancer.

Harnessing nanoparticles to improve toxicity after head and neck radiation.

Unlabelled: This article reports the evaluation of cerium oxide (CeO(2)) nanoparticles' ability to decrease xerostomia and radiation-induced dermatitis in mice after head and neck radiation. Mice were irradiated using an IC160 x-ray system. Two cohorts were included: (A) No-radiation and (B) 30 Gy/6 fractions, and were randomized into three groups: (1) saline, (2) 15 nM CeO(2) and (3) 15 μM CeO(2).

A facile nanoparticle immunoassay for cancer biomarker discovery.

Background: Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) scatter light intensely at or near their surface plasmon wavelength region. Using AuNPs coupled with dynamic light scattering (DLS) detection, we developed a facile nanoparticle immunoassay for serum protein biomarker detection and analysis. A serum sample was first mixed with a citrate-protected AuNP solution.

Orthotopic liver transplantation in a pediatric patient with progressive intrahepatic cholestasis: a coordinated perioperative subspecialty approach.

This report discusses the perioperative anesthesia management of a pediatric patient with end-stage liver disease from progressive intrahepatic cholestasis, with particular emphasis on the coordinated, multidisciplinary approach our institution uses.

Bioluminescence imaging correlates with tumor progression in an orthotopic mouse model of lung cancer.

Background And Objectives: To determine whether bioluminescence imaging of human lung cancer cells growing in an orthotopic murine model provides a sensitive tool for monitoring tumor progression in athymic nude mice.

Methods: Human lung cancer (A549) cells were stably transfected with the firefly luciferase gene and inoculated into the right lung of athymic nude mice. Seven days after inoculation tumor growth was evaluated using the Kodak in-vivo Imaging System FX and continued to be monitored on a weekly basis.

Multicolored redox active upconverter cerium oxide nanoparticle for bio-imaging and therapeutics.

Cytocompatible, co-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles exhibited strong upconversion properties that were found to kill lung cancer cells by inducing apoptosis thereby demonstrating the potential to be used as clinical contrast agents for imaging and as therapeutic agents for treatment of cancer.

Phosphate ester hydrolysis of biologically relevant molecules by cerium oxide nanoparticles.

In an effort to characterize the interaction of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) in biological systems, we explored the reactivity of CNPs with the phosphate ester bonds of p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP), ATP, o-phospho-l-tyrosine, and DNA. The activity of the bond cleavage for pNPP at pH 7 is calculated to be 0.860 ± 0.

A label-free nanoparticle aggregation assay for protein complex/aggregate detection and study.

The detection, analysis, and understanding of protein complexes/aggregates and their formation process are extremely important for biomolecular research, diagnosis, and biopharmaceutical development. Unfortunately, techniques that can be used conveniently for protein complex/aggregate detection and analysis are very limited. Using gold nanoparticle immunoprobes coupled with dynamic light scattering (DLS), we developed a label-free nanoparticle aggregation immunoassay (NanoDLSay) for protein aggregate detection and study.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles protect gastrointestinal epithelium from radiation-induced damage by reduction of reactive oxygen species and upregulation of superoxide dismutase 2.

Unlabelled: The ability of rare earth cerium oxide (CeO(2)) nanoparticles to confer radioprotection against gastrointestinal epithelium was examined. The pretreatment of normal human colon cells (CRL 1541) with varying concentrations of CeO(2) nanoparticles 24 hours before single-dose radiation exposure conferred protection from radiation-induced cell death by reducing the amount of reactive oxygen species produced and increasing the expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), in a dose-dependent manner. In subsequent experiments athymic nude mice were pretreated with intraperitoneal injections of CeO(2) nanoparticles before a single dose of radiation to the abdominal area.

Tolfenamic acid decreases c-Met expression through Sp proteins degradation and inhibits lung cancer cells growth and tumor formation in orthotopic mice.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), tolfenamic acid (TA) is emerging as a new anti-cancer agent. TA induces the degradation of specific Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors, Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 which are associated with tumor growth and metastasis. In this study we have evaluated the effect of TA on lung cancer using both in vitro and in vivo models.

Blockade of MGMT expression by O6 benzyl guanine leads to inhibition of pancreatic cancer growth and induction of apoptosis.

Purpose: We sought to determine whether administration of a MGMT blocker, O(6)-benzyl guanine (O(6)BG), at an optimal biological dose alone or in combination with gemcitabine inhibits human pancreatic cancer cell growth.

Experimental Design: Human pancreatic cancer L3.6pl and PANC1 cells were treated with O(6)BG, either alone or in combination with gemcitabine, and the therapeutic efficacy and biological activity of these drug combinations were investigated.

Protection from radiation-induced pneumonitis using cerium oxide nanoparticles.

In an effort to combat the harmful effects of radiation exposure, we propose that rare-earth cerium oxide (CeO(2)) nanoparticles (free-radical scavengers) protect normal tissue from radiation-induced damage. Preliminary studies suggest that these nanoparticles may be a therapeutic regenerative nanomedicine that will scavenge reactive oxygen species, which are responsible for radiation-induced cell damage. The effectiveness of CeO(2) nanoparticles in radiation protection in murine models during high-dose radiation exposure is investigated, with the ultimate goal of offering a new approach to radiation protection, using nanotechnology.

Tolfenamic acid enhances pancreatic cancer cell and tumor response to radiation therapy by inhibiting survivin protein expression.

Survivin is overexpressed in most human cancers, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Expression of survivin is regulated by specificity protein (Sp) proteins and related to resistance to radiation therapy. Tolfenamic acid induces Sp protein degradation in several cancer cell lines.

Novel murine model for colon cancer: non-operative trans-anal rectal injection.

Background: This study was conducted to develop a modified murine model of colon cancer that is non-operative. Currently, the most accurate orthotopic murine model of colon cancer requires an invasive procedure involving cecal injection of colon cancer cells and therefore limits the ability to perform immunological studies subsequent to cecal resections.

Materials And Methods: Murine colon cancer (CT26) cells were injected submucosally into the distal, posterior rectum of BALB/c mice.

Electrocautery-induced asystole in a scoliosis patient with a pacemaker.

Pediatric heart condition management may include a variety of implanted cardiac devices. Monopolar electrocautery (Bovie) produces significant electromagnetic interference to these devices. This interference can alter the function of a cardiac generator resulting in a variety of complications including impaired cardiac output and asystole.

Vacancy engineered ceria nanostructures for protection from radiation-induced cellular damage.

The ability of engineered cerium oxide nanoparticles to confer radioprotection was examined. Human normal and tumor cells were treated with nanoceria and irradiated, and cell survival was measured. Treatment of normal cells conferred almost 99% protection from radiation-induced cell death, whereas the same concentration showed almost no protection of tumor cells.