Inferior Vena Cava Reconstruction in Symptomatic Patients Using Palmaz Stents: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience.

Background: The use of stents for treating central venous occlusion is well described. Limited evidence exists related to Palmaz balloon-expandable stent use in inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction. We analyzed patency and complication rates after IVC reconstruction using Palmaz stents.

Complication rates of percutaneous biliary drainage in the presence of ascites.

Background: Ascites is a relative contraindication to percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD), but patients with biliary obstruction presenting with ascites may still undergo PBD insertion. We hypothesized that ascites increases the major complication rate of PBD.

Materials: PBDs placed between January 2005 and August 2016 were identified (n = 491).

Injectable thermogelling chitosan for the local delivery of bone morphogenetic protein.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility of injectable thermo gelling chitosan-ammonium hydrogen phosphate solution (chitosan-AHP) and its efficacy to deliver recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in a bioactive form. The thermogel showed a typical foreign body response upon subcutaneous implantation surrounded by a fibrous capsule. Even at 4 and 8 weeks post implantation, significant neutrophil infiltration was observed within the gel.

Curcumin-loaded poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanofibres: diabetic wound dressing with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

1. Curcumin is a naturally occurring poly-phenolic compound with a broad range of favourable biological functions, including anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The low bioavailability and in vivo stability of curcumin require the development of suitable carrier vehicles to deliver the molecule in a sustained manner at therapeutic levels.

Activity screening of carrier domains within nonribosomal peptide synthetases using complex substrate mixtures and large molecule mass spectrometry.

For screening a pool of potential substrates that load carrier domains found in nonribosomal peptide synthetases, large molecule mass spectrometry is shown to be a new, unbiased assay. Combining the high resolving power of Fourier transform mass spectrometry with the ability of adenylation domains to select their own substrates, the mass change that takes place upon formation of a covalent intermediate thus identifies the substrate. This assay has an advantage over traditional radiochemical assays in that many substrates, the substrate pool, can be screened simultaneously.