Phenytoin and damage to the cerebellum - a systematic review of published cases.

Introduction: The antiseizure medication phenytoin has been associated with changes in the cerebellum, cerebellar signs, and permanent cerebellar damage. We have systematically reviewed the clinical and radiological features, and their correlation.

Areas Covered: We identified sixty case reports and case series of the effects of phenytoin on the cerebellum by searching Medline and Embase and relevant reference lists.

Experimental Perspectives on Direct Visualization of Endosomal Rupture.

Endosomal escape continues to be a limiting factor in the therapeutic use of nanomaterials. Assays to visualize endosomal escape often do not decouple the endosomal/lysosomal disruption from the release of payload into the cytosol. Here, we discuss three approaches to directly probe endosomal/lysosomal rupture: calcein dye dilution, lysosome size quantification and endosome/lysosome membrane integrity visualized with a genetically engineered cell line.

Perfluorocarbon nanomaterials for photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality in which a photosensitizer is irradiated with light, producing reactive oxygen species, often via energy transfer with oxygen. As it is common for tumors to be hypoxic, methods to deliver photosensitizer and oxygen are desirable. One such approach is the use of perfluorocarbons, molecules in which all C-H bonds are replaced with C-F bonds, to co-deliver oxygen because of the high solubility of gases in perfluorocarbons.

Redox-Responsive Gene Delivery from Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions through Cleavable Poly(2-oxazoline) Surfactants.

The clinical utility of emulsions as delivery vehicles is hindered by a dependence on passive release. Stimuli-responsive emulsions overcome this limitation but rely on external triggers or are composed of nanoparticle-stabilized droplets that preclude sizes necessary for biomedical applications. Here, we employ cleavable poly(2-oxazoline) diblock copolymer surfactants to form perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsions that release cargo upon exposure to glutathione.

Fluorous Soluble Cyanine Dyes for Visualizing Perfluorocarbons in Living Systems.

The bioorthogonal nature of perfluorocarbons provides a unique platform for introducing dynamic nano- and microdroplets into cells and organisms. To monitor the localization and deformation of the droplets, fluorous soluble fluorophores that are compatible with standard fluorescent protein markers and applicable to cells, tissues, and small organisms are necessary. Here, we introduce fluorous cyanine dyes that represent the most red-shifted fluorous soluble fluorophores to date.

Systematic Study of Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions Stabilized by Polymer Amphiphiles.

Perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsions, droplets of fluorous solvent stabilized by surfactants dispersed in water, are simple yet versatile nanomaterials. The orthogonal nature of the fluorous phase promotes the formation of nanoemulsions through a simple, self-assembly process while simultaneously encapsulating fluorous-tagged payloads for various applications. The size, stability, and surface chemistry of PFC nanoemulsions are controlled by the surfactant.

A Reduction-Sensitive Fluorous Fluorogenic Coumarin.

Fluorophores that are sensitive to their environment are useful tools for sensing chemical changes and probing biological systems. Here, we extend responsive fluorophores to the fluorous phase with the synthesis of a reduction-sensitive fluorous-soluble fluorogenic coumarin. We demonstrate that this fluorophore responds to various reducing agents, most notably glutathione, a key biological reductant.

Liquid laundry detergent capsules (PODS): a review of their composition and mechanisms of toxicity, and of the circumstances, routes, features, and management of exposure.

Liquid laundry detergent capsules (also called single-use detergent sacs; laundry pods; laundry packets) have become an increasingly popular household product worldwide. To review the composition and mechanisms of toxicity of liquid laundry detergent, capsules, and the circumstances, routes, clinical features (and impact of packaging changes) and management of exposure. The databases PubMed and EMBASE were searched using the terms: "detergent" and "capsule", "pod", "pac" or "sac" combined with "poison", "ingest", "expos" but not "animal" or "" or "bacteria".

Controlling nanoemulsion surface chemistry with poly(2-oxazoline) amphiphiles.

Emulsions are dynamic materials that have been extensively employed within pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. However, their use beyond conventional applications has been hindered by difficulties in surface functionalization, and an inability to selectively control physicochemical properties. Here, we employ custom poly(2-oxazoline) block copolymers to overcome these limitations.

A review of 4652 exposures to liquid laundry detergent capsules reported to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service 2008-2018.

Liquid laundry detergent capsules contain concentrated liquid laundry detergent in a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol membrane. To review 4652 exposures reported to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) and to assess the impact of regulatory changes on potential toxicity. Telephone enquiries to the NPIS and returned questionnaires for these products were analyzed for the period January 2008 to December 2018.

Fluorous photosensitizers enhance photodynamic therapy with perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) requires a photosensitizer, light, and oxygen to induce cell death. The majority of efforts to advance PDT focus only on the first two components. Here, we employ perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions to simultaneously deliver oxygen and a photosensitizer.

Exposures to automatic dishwashing rinse aids reported to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service 2008-2016.

Objective: To determine the toxicity of rinse aids which are used as drying aids to remove water from crockery.

Methods: Enquiries to the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) were analysed retrospectively for the period January 2008 to December 2016.

Results: There were 855 enquiries relating to 828 patients; children aged 5 years or less accounted for 91.

Flavylium Polymethine Fluorophores for Near- and Shortwave Infrared Imaging.

Bright fluorophores in the near-infrared and shortwave infrared (SWIR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum are essential for optical imaging in vivo. In this work, we utilized a 7-dimethylamino flavylium heterocycle to construct a panel of novel red-shifted polymethine dyes, with emission wavelengths from 680 to 1045 nm. Photophysical characterization revealed that the 1- and 3-methine dyes display enhanced photostability and the 5- and 7-methine dyes exhibit exceptional brightness for their respective spectral regions.

Toxicity resulting from exposure to oven cleaners as reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) from 2009 to 2015.

Introduction: Oven cleaning products contain corrosive substances, typically sodium or potassium hydroxide.

Objective: To determine the reported toxicity from exposure to oven cleaning products.

Methods: Telephone enquiries to the UK National Poisons Information Service regarding oven cleaning products were analysed retrospectively for the period January 2009 to December 2015.

CD11b activation suppresses TLR-dependent inflammation and autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Genetic variations in the ITGAM gene (encoding CD11b) strongly associate with risk for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here we have shown that 3 nonsynonymous ITGAM variants that produce defective CD11b associate with elevated levels of type I interferon (IFN-I) in lupus, suggesting a direct link between reduced CD11b activity and the chronically increased inflammatory status in patients. Treatment with the small-molecule CD11b agonist LA1 led to partial integrin activation, reduced IFN-I responses in WT but not CD11b-deficient mice, and protected lupus-prone MRL/Lpr mice from end-organ injury.

Toxicity from automotive screenwashes reported to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) from 2012 to 2015.

Background: Automotive screenwashes commonly contain ethylene glycol, methanol, and/or isopropanol; ethanol is also included in many formulations. The concentrations and combinations of each constituent vary considerably between the products. This study was undertaken to investigate the toxicity of automotive screenwashes as reported by telephone to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).

The impact of an international initiative on exposures to liquid laundry detergent capsules reported to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service between 2008 and 2015.

Introduction: Although the majority of those exposed to liquid laundry detergent capsules remain asymptomatic or suffer only minor clinical features after exposure, a small proportion develop central nervous system depression, stridor, pulmonary aspiration and/or airway burns following ingestion or conjunctivitis and corneal ulceration following eye exposure. As a consequence, the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (AISE) established a Product Stewardship Programme in Europe, requiring that safety measures be implemented to reduce the visibility of, and restrict access to, these detergent capsules by small children. Implementation occurred in the United Kingdom over several months during the first half of 2013.

Exposures to traditional automatic dishwashing tablets and a comparison with exposures to soluble film tablets reported to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service 2008-2015.

Introduction: Traditional automatic dishwashing tablets are contained within an external wrapper that requires removal prior to use.

Objective: To determine the toxicity of traditional tablets and to compare this with our previously reported experience of soluble film dishwashing tablets.

Methods: Telephone enquiries regarding traditional tablets were analysed retrospectively for the period January 2008 to December 2015.

Toxicity of soluble film automatic dishwashing products as reported to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service 2008-2015.

Introduction: Soluble film automatic dishwashing tablets, unlike their traditional counterparts, require no removal from an outer protective wrapper prior to use. Instead, the tablets are enclosed by a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film and are loaded straight into the dishwashing machine. They most commonly contain a source of hydrogen peroxide (often as sodium percarbonate) and non-ionic surfactants.

Readability statistics of patient information leaflets in a Speech and Language Therapy Department.

Background: Information leaflets are commonly used in Speech and Language Therapy Departments. Despite widespread use, they can be of variable quality.

Aims: To revise current departmental leaflets using the National Health Service (NHS) Toolkit for Producing Patient Information and to test the effect that this has on the readability scores of the text.