Case Report: Paclitaxel-Induced Pneumonitis in Early Breast Cancer: A Single Institution Experience and Review

Taxane-based chemotherapy regimens are in widespread use as standard of care treatment for patients with early breast cancer, though rarely its use can be complicated by taxane-induced pneumonitis (TIP). While breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, TIP remains under-described in this setting. Key questions relate to its incidence, diagnosis and management, potential predictive biomarkers, and the balance between this life-threatening toxicity and curatively intended treatment. At a single Australian institution, 6 cases of TIP are identified among 132 patients treated with a paclitaxel-containing regimen for early breast cancer (4.55%, 95% confidence interval 1.69-9.63%). This review first outlines the presentation, management, and outcomes for these cases, then answers these questions and proposes an approach to suspected TIP in patients with breast cancer

Calcifediol-loaded liposomes for local treatment of pulmonary bacterial infections.

The influence of vitamin D3 and its metabolites calcifediol (25(OH)D) and calcitriol on immune regulation and inflammation is well described, and raises the question of potential benefit against bacterial infections. In the current study, 25(OH)D was encapsulated in liposomes to enable aerosolisation, and tested for the ability to prevent pulmonary infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Prepared 25(OH)D-loaded liposomes were nanosized and monodisperse, with a negative surface charge and a 25(OH)D entrapment efficiency of approximately 23%. Jet nebulisation of liposomes was seen to yield an aerosol suitable for tracheo-bronchial deposition. Interestingly, 25(OH)D in either liposomes or ethanolic solution had no effect on the release of the proinflammatory cytokine KC from Pseudomonas-infected murine epithelial cells (LA-4); treatment of infected, human bronchial 16-HBE cells with 25(OH)D liposomes however resulted in a significant reduction in bacterial survival. Together with the importance of selecting an application-appropriate in vitro model, the current study illustrates the feasibility and practicality of employing liposomes as a means to achieve 25(OH)D lung deposition. 25(OH)D-loaded liposomes further demonstrated promising effects regarding prevention of Pseudomonas infection in human bronchial epithelial cells

Human astrocytes and microglia show augmented ingestion of synapses in Alzheimer's disease via MFG-E8

Synapse loss correlates with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Data from mouse models suggests microglia are important for synapse degeneration, but direct human evidence for any glial involvement in synapse removal in human AD remains to be established. Here we observe astrocytes and microglia from human brains contain greater amounts of synaptic protein in AD compared with non-disease controls, and that proximity to amyloid-β plaques and the APOE4 risk gene exacerbate this effect. In culture, mouse and human astrocytes and primary mouse and human microglia phagocytose AD patient-derived synapses more than synapses from controls. Inhibiting interactions of MFG-E8 rescues the elevated engulfment of AD synapses by astrocytes and microglia without affecting control synapse uptake. Thus, AD promotes increased synapse ingestion by human glial cells at least in part via an MFG-E8 opsonophagocytic mechanism with potential for targeted therapeutic manipulation.</p

Brotação, crescimento e desenvolvimento inicial de mudas de confrei / Sprouting, growth and initial development of confrei seedlings

O confrei (Symphytum officinale) é uma planta medicinal que tem a alantoína como substância marcadora, que é utilizada em pomadas, cremes e cosméticos, como agente de condicionamento da pele,  porém pouco se sabe acerca de seu crescimento e desenvolvimento, principalmente em nível inicial do cultivo de mudas. Desta forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a brotação, o crescimento e o desenvolvimento inicial de mudas de confrei quando cultivados na estação do verão, em Niterói, RJ,  em casa de vegetação sob sombreamento de 70%. Para isso, as mudas foram produzidas por estaquia do rizoma e cultivadas por 63 dias após início da brotação (DAB). Foram avaliados:  número de brotações, índice de velocidade de brotação (IVB), parâmetros de crescimento (altura, número de folhas e área foliar) e fluorescência da clorofila a.  Os resultados demonstram que a espécie apresenta excelente taxa de brotação em um curto período de tempo, iniciando no segundo dia após o plantio e  finalizando a brotação dos rizomas após 5 dias, com crescimento e desenvolvimento adequados, entretanto, aos 40 DAB as plantas apresentaram maior dissipação de energia por centro de reação dos fotossistemas (DIo/RC), o que afetou o Índice de Performance (PI total), possivelmente pela falta de nitrogênio e a necessidade de um volume maior de solo para seu cultivo, devido ao seu rápido crescimento inicial.  Porém,  para seu cultivo inicial,  nas condições climáticas de Niterói, RJ e na estação do verão, é indicado sombreamento de 70%, a fim de  evitar possíveis fotodanos

Influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients: systematic review and meta-analysis from a public health policy perspective.

Immunocompromised patients are vulnerable to severe or complicated influenza infection. Vaccination is widely recommended for this group. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients in terms of preventing influenza-like illness and laboratory confirmed influenza, serological response and adverse events

Human astrocytes and microglia show augmented ingestion of synapses in Alzheimer's disease via MFG-E8.

Synapse loss correlates with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Data from mouse models suggests microglia are important for synapse degeneration, but direct human evidence for any glial involvement in synapse removal in human AD remains to be established. Here we observe astrocytes and microglia from human brains contain greater amounts of synaptic protein in AD compared with non-disease controls, and that proximity to amyloid-β plaques and the APOE4 risk gene exacerbate this effect. In culture, mouse and human astrocytes and primary mouse and human microglia phagocytose AD patient-derived synapses more than synapses from controls. Inhibiting interactions of MFG-E8 rescues the elevated engulfment of AD synapses by astrocytes and microglia without affecting control synapse uptake. Thus, AD promotes increased synapse ingestion by human glial cells at least in part via an MFG-E8 opsonophagocytic mechanism with potential for targeted therapeutic manipulation