Shear-Induced Encapsulation into Red Blood Cells: A New Microfluidic Approach to Drug Delivery.

Encapsulating molecules into red blood cells (RBCs) is a challenging topic for drug delivery in clinical practice, allowing to prolong the residence time in the body and to avoid toxic residuals. Fluidic shear stress is able to temporary open the membrane pores of RBCs, thus allowing for the diffusion of a drug in solution with the cells. In this paper, both a computational and an experimental approach were used to investigate the mechanism of shear-induced encapsulation in a microchannel.

The changing scenario of hepatocellular carcinoma over the last two decades in Italy.

Background & Aims: This study investigates whether the aetiologic changes in liver disease and the improved management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have modified the clinical scenario of this tumour over the last 20 years in Italy.

Methods: Retrospective study based on the analysis of the ITA.LI.

Changing aetiological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma and their potential impact on the effectiveness of surveillance.

Background: The aetiological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma may vary over time.

Aims: The study assessed the potential impact of the aetiological factors on the effectiveness of surveillance in real-world patients.

Methods: Multicentre, cross-sectional study enrolling consecutive hepatocellular carcinoma cases during a six month period.

Art in the hospital: its impact on the feelings and emotional state of patients admitted to an internal medicine unit.

Objective: This descriptive pilot study aimed at assessing the impact of art contemplation on patients' adaptation to hospital confinement and the factors influencing this effect.

Study Design: Artistic photographs were hung on the walls of the ward. Two hundred and thirty-nine (239) consecutive non-bed-constrained patients who stayed in the ward for at least 3 days (original number enrolled in study were males/females: 148/96, age 19-89 years; 5 patients declined to fill out questionnaires) participated in the study.

Treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients are as effective as in younger patients: a 20-year multicentre experience.

Objectives: The number of elderly patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to increase. We compared the presenting features and outcome of HCC in elderly (>or=70 years) and younger patients (<70 years).

Design: Multicentre retrospective cohort study and nested case-control study.

C-11 acetate does not enhance usefulness of F-18 FDG PET/CT in differentiating between focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatic adenoma.

Purpose Of The Report: We assessed the usefulness of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and C-11 acetate PET (AC PET) in distinguishing hepatic lesions due to consequential disease (hepatocellular adenoma and malignant lesions) from focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in patients at low risk of malignancy.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one patients with 43 lesions were prospectively enrolled. The diagnostic work-up included Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver: a reappraisal.

Although not frequently, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can ensue in a non-cirrhotic liver. As compared to cirrhotic HCC, this kind of tumour has some peculiarities, such as: (a) a lower male preponderance and a bimodal age distribution; (b) a lower prevalence of the three main risk factors (hepatitis B and C virus infections and alcohol abuse), with an increased prevalence of other etiologic factors, such as exposure to genotoxic substances and sex hormones, inherited diseases, genetic mutations; (c) a more advanced tumour stage at the time of diagnosis, as it is usually detected due to the occurrence of cancer-related symptoms, outside any scheduled surveillance program; (d) a much higher amenability to hepatic resection, due to the low risk of liver failure even after extended parenchymal mutilation; (e) overall and disease-free survivals after resection of non-advanced tumours (meeting the Milano criteria) comparable to that obtained with liver transplantation in cirrhotic patients carrying an early tumour; (f) overall survival strictly dependent on tumour burden (and its recurrence) and barely influenced by liver function.

Liver Cirrhosis in a Patient with Sickle Cell Trait (Hb Sβ Thalassemia) without Other Known Causes of Hepatic Disease.

Liver involvement in patients with sickle cell anemia/trait includes a wide range of alterations, from mild liver function test abnormalities to cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Approximately 15-30% of patients with sickle cell anemia present cirrhosis at autopsy. The pathogenesis of cirrhosis is usually related to chronic hepatitis B or C infection or to iron overload resulting from the many transfusions received by these patients in their lifetime.

The role of tissue factor and P-selectin in the procoagulant response that occurs in the first month after on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: It has been previously shown that a persistent (up to 1 month) prothrombotic status occurs after coronary bypass surgery performed both on pump and off pump. To assess the pathways involved in the occurrence of postoperative prothrombotic state, in this study we evaluated plasma, monocyte-bound, and platelet-bound tissue factor expression, as well as platelet and soluble P-selectin expression, up to 1 month after off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Thirty patient candidates for coronary surgery were randomized to undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 15) or on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 15).

Increased prothrombotic state lasting as long as one month after on-pump and off-pump coronary surgery.

Objective: This study investigated whether the activation of coagulation, fibrinolysis, and endothelium occurring during the first postoperative month after on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery differs from that after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Thirty-five patients candidates to coronary surgery were randomized to undergo on-pump (n = 18) or off-pump (n = 17) coronary artery bypass grafting. Blood samples were collected before the intervention and to 1 month after surgery.

Platelet activation induces cell-surface immunoreactive tissue factor expression, which is modulated differently by antiplatelet drugs.

Objective: Tissue factor (TF) is the main activator of the coagulation cascade occurring in physiologic and pathologic conditions. Recent data suggest that human platelets might contain TF that is possibly derived from leukocytes. In this study, we investigated whether intraplatelet TF can be exposed on the membrane by platelet agonists.