Targeting human brain cancer stem cells by curcumin-loaded nanoparticles grafted with anti-aldehyde dehydrogenase and sialic acid: Colocalization of ALDH and CD44.

The use of chemotherapy against brain tumors faces various limitations to achieving its therapeutic effect, due to both the inability of anticancer agents to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the formation of brain cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Without adequate exposure, these chemotherapeutic drugs cannot have an antiproliferative effect on the tumors. Here, we developed curcumin (CCM)-loaded chitosan-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) modified with sialic acid (SA) to permeate the BBB and with anti-aldehyde dehydrogenase (anti-ALDH) to target BCSCs.

The effect of EMLA cream on minimizing pain during venipuncture in premature infants.

Background: Painful procedures for premature infants in neonatal intensive care units remain inevitable. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of an eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA) cream for minimizing pain in premature infants during venipuncture in neonatal intensive care units.

Methods: This study enrolled 32 premature infants.

Clinical outcomes and development of children born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using extracted testicular sperm or ejaculated extreme severe oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia sperm: a comparative study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and development of children born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with extracted testicular sperm or ejaculated extreme severe oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) sperm.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Infertility clinic at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Comparison of the offspring sex ratio between cleavage stage embryo transfer and blastocyst transfer.

Objective: To compare the sex ratio of offspring born after cleavage stage embryo transfer and blastocyst transfer.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study of embryo transfer (ET), we included 473 offspring from 446 deliveries during the period January 2002 to December 2007. Statistical analysis was performed on the sex ratio of offspring resulting from day 3 cleavage stage embryo transfer and from sequential blastocyst culture transfer.

Comparison of the efficacy of two vaginal progesterone formulations, Crinone 8% gel and Utrogestan capsules, used for luteal support in blastocyst stage embryo transfers.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of two vaginal progesterone formulations, Crinone gel and Utrogestan capsules, for luteal phase support in blastocyst stage embryo transfers.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 460 consecutive cycles in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI)-blastocyst transfer (BT) treatment at our institution between January 2004 and December 2007. Patients applied either Crinone 8% vaginal gel (90 mg, once daily) or Utrogestan vaginal capsules (200 mg, four times daily) for luteal supplementation.

Comparison of the offspring sex ratio between fresh and vitrification-thawed blastocyst transfer.

There was a significant difference in the sex ratio between offspring from fresh and from vitrification-thawed blastocyst transfer. The live birth sex ratio influenced by the blastocyst-stage embryo transfer correlated with top-quality embryo morphology.