Tackling the various classes of nano-therapeutics employed in topical therapy of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a dermatological chronic skin condition with underlying autoimmune etiology. It deeply affects patients’ quality of life. Therefore, it was an interesting target for researchers throughout the past years. Conventionally, the treatment options include anti-inflammatory agents, immune suppressants, biologic treatment, and phototherapy. Nanotechnology offers promising characteristics that allow for tailoring a drug carrier to achieve dermal targeting, improved efficacy and minimize undesirable effects. Being the safest route, the first line of treatment and a targeted approach, we solely discussed the use of the topical route, combined with advanced drug delivery systems for the management of psoriasis in this article. Advanced systems include polymeric, metallic, lipidic and hybrid nanocarriers incorporating different active agents. All formerly mentioned types of drug delivery systems were investigated through the past decades for the purpose of topical application on psoriatic plaques. Scientists’ efforts are promising to reach an optimized formula with a convenient dosage form to improve efficacy, safety, and compliance for the treatment of psoriasis. Accordingly, it will offer a better quality of life for patients

Coping Strategies in Egyptian Ladies with Breast Cancer

Introduction A diagnosis of breast cancer regardless of the stage can be stressful, impact multiple spheres of life, and disrupt physical status, emotional and spiritual well-being, and personal relationships for the patient and family. In order to adapt, the patient ought to employ certain coping mechanisms. Individuals with terminal illness who utilize coping strategies have better quality of life compared to those who do not. Patients and Methods This study aimed to determine the strategies used by females with breast cancer to cope with such stress by using Brief COPE scale and the hospital anxiety and depression scale. The study included 56 female patients diagnosed with operable breast cancer at Mansoura Oncology Center before surgery. Results Large proportion of patients used acceptance, religion, and emotional support in coping with the stress of having breast cancer. Patients with depressive symptoms scored significantly higher venting while those with anxiety scored higher positive reframing, planning, and venting. Conclusion Efforts should be made to encourage women with breast cancer to use coping strategies that have been found to be helpful (eg, acceptance, emotional support, distraction, and active coping strategies)

A Tailored Thermosensitive PLGA-PEG-PLGA/Emulsomes Composite for Enhanced Oxcarbazepine Brain Delivery via the Nasal Route

The use of nanocarrier delivery systems for direct nose to brain drug delivery shows promise for achieving increased brain drug levels as compared to simple solution systems. An example of such nanocarriers is emulsomes formed from lipid cores surrounded and stabilised by a corona of phospholipids (PC) and a coating of Tween 80, which combines the properties of both liposomes and emulsions. Oxcarbazepine (OX), an antiepileptic drug, was entrapped in emulsomes and then localized in a poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) triblock copolymer thermogel. The incorporation of OX emulsomes in thermogels retarded drug release and increased its residence time (MRT) in rats. The OX-emulsome and the OX-emulsome-thermogel formulations showed in vitro sustained drug release of 81.1 and 53.5%, respectively, over a period of 24 h. The pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed transport of OX to the systemic circulation after nasal administration with a higher uptake in the brain tissue in case of OX-emulsomes and highest MRT for OX-emulsomal-thermogels as compared to the IN OX-emulsomes, OX-solution and Trileptal® suspension. Histopathological examination of nasal tissues showed a mild vascular congestion and moderate inflammatory changes around congested vessels compared to saline control, but lower toxic effect than that reported in case of the drug solution

Prognostic Impact of Lymphoid Enhancer Factor 1 Expression and Serum Galectin.3 in Egyptian AML Patients

Background. Deregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway had a role in haematological malignancies. Previous studies reported that lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1) expression and serum Galectin-3 level could affect clinical parameters and outcome in acute myeloid leukemia patients, but as far as we know, no study has addressed their combined effect on AML patients. Aim. We studied the expression of LEF1 by real-time qPCR and measured serum level of Gal.3 by ELISA technique in peripheral blood of 69 AML patients and correlated it with different clinicopathological criteria of patients, response, PFS and OS. Results. We found high expression (LEF1high) was associated with better OS (p=0.02) and EFS (p=0.019) compared to LEF1low, low serum Gal.3 level had better OS (p=0.014) and EFS (p=0.02) compared to high serum Gal.3 level. LEF1high less likely to carry a FLT3-ITD (p=0.047) compared to LEF1low patient, also LEF1high characterized by favorable risk (p=0.02) than LEF1low patients. While patients with higher Gal-3 levels characterized by poor risk (p=0.02) than lower Gal.3 lels, also more likely to carry a FLT3-ITD with borderline significance (p=0.054). Combined LEF1high/Gal.3 low patients had lower baseline blast percentages (p=0.02), favorable risk (p=0.01), less likely to carry FLT3-ITD (p=0.02), higher CR rate (p=0.055), shorter time to CR (0.001) than other groups. Among high Gal.3 level group, LEF1high expression improved OS and EFS (20 and 15 months respectively) vs LEF1low expression (13 and 8 months respectively). Conclusion. We conclude that high LEF1 expression was a favorable prognostic marker which can define AML patient risk and outcome independent from assessing the serum galectin.3 level