A versatile characterization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamideco- N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide) hydrogels for composition, mechanical strength, and rheology

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N"-methylene-bisacrylamide) (P(NIPAAm-co-MBA)) hydrogels were prepared in water using redox initiator. The copolymer composition at high conversion (> 95%) was determined indirectly by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis of the leaching water and directly by solid state 13C CP MAS NMR (cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy of the dried gels, and was found to be close to that of the feed. The effect of cross-linker (MBA) content in the copolymer was investigated in the concentration range of 1.1–9.1 mol% (R:90–10; R = mol NIPAAm/mol MBA) on the rheological behaviour and mechanical strength of the hydrogels. Both storage and loss modulus decreased with decreasing cross-linker content as revealed by dynamic rheometry. Gels R70 and R90 with very low cross-linker content (1.2–1.5 mol% MBA) have a very loose network structure, which is significantly different from those with higher cross-linker content manifesting in higher difference in storage modulus. The temperature dependence of the damping factor served the most accurate determination of the volume phase transition temperature, which was not affected by the cross-link density in the investigated range of MBA concentration. Gel R10 with highest cross-linker content (9.1 mol% MBA) behaves anomalously due to heterogeneity and the hindered conformation of the side chains of PNIPAAm

Effect of Linagliptin vs Placebo on Major Cardiovascular Events in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and High Cardiovascular and Renal Risk

IMPORTANCE Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Prior trials have demonstrated CV safety of 3 dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors but have included limited numbers of patients with high CV risk and chronic kidney disease

The application of adjuvant autologous antravesical macrophage cell therapy vs. BCG in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a multicenter, randomized trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>While adjuvant immunotherapy with Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) is effective in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BC), adverse events (AEs) are considerable. Monocyte-derived activated killer cells (MAK) are discussed as essential in antitumoural immunoresponse, but their application may imply risks. The present trial compared autologous intravesical macrophage cell therapy (BEXIDEM^®) to BCG in patients after transurethral resection (TURB) of BC.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>This open-label trial included 137 eligible patients with TaG1-3, T1G1-2 plurifocal or unifocal tumours and ≥ 2 occurrences within 24 months and was conducted from June 2004 to March 2007. Median follow-up for patients without recurrence was 12 months. Patients were randomized to BCG or mononuclear cells collected by apheresis after ex vivo cell processing and activation (BEXIDEM). Either arm treatment consisted of 6 weekly instillations and 2 cycles of 3 weekly instillations at months 3 and 6. Toxicity profile (primary endpoint) and prophylactic effects (secondary endpoint) were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patient characteristics were evenly distributed. Of 73 treated with BCG and 64 with BEXIDEM, 85% vs. 45% experienced AEs and 26% vs. 14% serious AEs (SAE), respectively (p < 0.001). Recurrence occurred significantly less frequent with BCG than with BEXIDEM (12% vs. 38%; p < 0.001).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This initial report of autologous intravesical macrophage cell therapy in BC demonstrates BEXIDEM treatment to be safe. Recurrence rates were significantly lower with BCG however. As the efficacy of BEXIDEM remains uncertain, further data, e.g. marker lesions studies, are warranted.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>The trial has been registered in the ISRCTN registry <url>http://isrctn.org</url> under the registration number ISRCTN35881130.</p

Essential role of using virtual pyeloscopy in the diagnosis of small satellite renal pelvic tumour in solitary kidney patient

Virtual pyeloscopy (VP) plays an important role in the organ-sparing nephroscopic tumour resection and traditional pole resection, especially when a fibreoptic ureteroscopic examination cannot be performed. A 67-year-old man developed macroscopic hematuria. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and cystoscopy revealed a lower calix renal stone and a 20-mm lower pyelon mass suggesting transitional cell cancer. An additional small satellite lesion in the pelvico-ureteral junction was supposedly present. Three-phase MultiDetector CT with VP showed a solitary 3 to 4-mm renal pelvic lesion beyond the known calix stone and lower pole mass. In our case, VP played an important role in the organ-sparing nephroscopic tumour resection and traditional pole resection