SAPHO: has the time come for tailored therapy?

SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis) syndrome is a heterogeneous condition combining osteoarticular and cutaneous manifestations. Conventional treatments are mostly ineffective. We hereby report two patients, the first with an aggressive form of disease and the second with an incomplete response to two different anti-TNF-α agents. Both were successfully treated with tocilizumab and ustekinumab, respectively, over a long period of time. A narrative review of a biological therapy in SAPHO syndrome yielded very little information on the specific use of these agents. We highlight the advantages of personalising therapy and describe emerging promising treatments for this disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Selective ablating urologic cancers with cold atmospheric plasma

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Anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and antioxidant profiles of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition as chemoprevention for rat bladder carcinogenesis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor in rat bladder cancer chemoprevention, as well as to assess the relevance of inflammation, proliferation and oxidative stress in tumor growth and in its prevention. RESULTS: The main findings were: (I) the incidence of carcinoma was: control: 0% (0/8); BBN: 65% (13/20); CEL: 0% (0/8) and BBN + CEL: 12.5% (1/8); (II) the mean tumor volume per rat with tumor and per tumor were significantly lower in the BBN + CEL group (21.2 and 5.3 +/- 0.4 mm(3)) vs. BBN (138.5 +/- 7.5 and 112.5 +/- 6.4 mm(3)); (III) the incidence of pre-neoplasic (hyperplasia and dysplasia) and neoplasic (papillary tumors and carcinoma in situ-CIS) lesions were notoriously reduced in the CEL + BBN treatment; (IV) CEL significantly reduced serum TGFbeta1 and CRP and increase TNFalpha and IL-1beta (p < 0.001); (V) CEL reduced MDA formation in serum (p < 0.001) and liver (p < 0.05) and also showed a trend to reduction in kidney. METHODS: Drug treatments were performed during the first 8 w, followed by 12 w for tumor expression/prevention, in the following groups: control-vehicle; carcinogen-0.05% of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN); celecoxib (CEL)-10 mg/kg/day and preventive CEL + BBN. The bladders were analyzed for number and volume of tumor and nature of urothelium lesions. Serum was assessed for markers of inflammation, proliferation and redox status. CONCLUSIONS: Celecoxib has demonstrated an outstanding inhibitory effect on bladder cancer chemoprevention, which might be due to its expected anti-inflammatory actions, as well as by anti-proliferatory and antioxidant actions. This data supports a pivotal role of cancer chemoprevention strategies based on COX-2 inhibition

Electroanalytical thread-device for estriol determination using screen-printed carbon electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes

Microflow systems are powerful analytical tools that explore similar principles of typical flow injection analysis driven to in a microfluidic device. Generally, microfluidic devices can promote a low consumption of reagents and samples, high speed of analysis and possibility of portability. Several advances have been reached applying a simple and low cost device based on cotton thread as microfluidic channel where the transportation of solutions is based on capillary force helped by gravity. In the present work, we have demonstrated the versatility of thread-based electroanalytical devices (μTED) constructed using a cotton thread as the solution channel and screen-printed electrodes (SPE) surface modified with carbon nanotubes (CNT) as electrochemical detectors for the amperometric determination of estriol hormone in pharmaceutical samples. The parameters involved in the amperometric detection and microflow system were studied and optimized, using the best experimental conditions (flow rate of 0.50 μL s−1, 10 mm of analytical path, 2.0 μL of volume of injection and potential of detection of 0.75 V) a linear response was observed for concentration range (LDR) of 1.0 to 1000 μmol L−1 with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.53 μmolL−1 and 1.77 μmolL−1, respectively, and frequency of injection of 32 per hour. The proposed methodology was applied for determination of estriol in commercial samples and results were compared with those provided by spectrophotometric method (official methodology). The obtained results are in agreement at a 95% of confidence level

The effect of cold atmospheric plasma in bladder cancer cell

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Combination of electrochemical biosensor and textile threads: A microfluidic device for phenol determination in tap water

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. Microfluidic devices constructed using low cost materials presents as alternative for conventional flow analysis systems because they provide advantages as low consumption of reagents and samples, high speed of analysis, possibility of portability and the easiness of construction and maintenance. Herein, is described for the first time the use of an electrochemical biosensor for phenol detection combined with a very simple and efficient microfluidic device based on commercial textile threads. Taking advantages of capillary phenomena and gravity forces, the solution transportation is promoted without any external forces or injection pump. Screen printed electrodes were modified with carbon nanotubes/gold nanoparticles followed by covalent binding of tyrosinase. After the biosensor electrochemical characterization by cyclic voltammetry technique, the optimization of relevant parameters such as pH, potential of detection and linear range for the biosensor performance was carried out; the system was evaluated for analytical phenol detection presenting limit of detection and limit of quantification 2.94 nmol L −1 and 8.92 nmol L −1 respectively. The proposed system was applied on phenol addition and recovery studies in drinking water, obtaining recoveries rates between 90% and 110%

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: study of methods for the detection of IgG in serum and eluate samples

The Brazilian Ministry of Health recommends the culling and euthanasia of dogs with a positive serological test for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). In the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, the technique used for the diagnosis of CVL is the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), using blood samples eluted on filter paper (eluate). A dog survey was conducted over a period of one year in the region of Carapiá, in order to evaluate the diagnosis of CVL in this region. All animals underwent clinical examination, and blood samples (serum and eluate) were collected for analysis by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and IFAT. A skin biopsy was obtained for parasitological examination (culture). A total of 305 animals were studied and Leishmania chagasi was isolated from nine animals. Sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 96.6% for ELISA, respectively, 100% and 65.5% for IFAT (cut-off at a 1:40 dilution), 100% and 83.4% for IFAT (cut-off at a 1:80 dilution), and 22.2% and 97.0% for eluate IFAT. In conclusion, ELISA was the best tool for the diagnosis of CVL among the serological techniques tested. The present results suggest the need for a better evaluation of filter paper IFAT as the only diagnostic method for CVL in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro.O Ministério da Saúde recomenda a eutanásia de cães sororreatores como controle da leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC). No Município do Rio de Janeiro, a técnica utilizada para o diagnóstico da LVC é o teste de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI), utilizando amostras de sangue eluídas em papel de filtro (eluato). Um levantamento, durante um ano, foi conduzido na região de Carapiá, a fim de avaliar o diagnóstico da LVC nesta região. Todos os animais foram submetidos a exame clínico e coleta de sangue (soro e eluato) para realização do ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA) e imunofluorescência indireta (IFI). Biópsia de pele foi obtida para o exame parasitológico (cultura). Foram avaliados 305 (89,4%) animais de uma população de 341 cães e Leishmania chagasi foi isolada de nove animais. A sensibilidade e especificidade do ELISA foram de 100% e 96,6%, na IFI (ponto de corte 1:40) de 100% e 65,5%, na IFI (ponto de corte 1:80) de 100% e 83,4% e na IFI (eluato) de 22,2% e 97,0%, respectivamente. A partir dos resultados obtidos podemos concluir que entre as técnicas sorológicas empregadas, o teste de ELISA apresentou-se como a melhor ferramenta para o diagnóstico da LVC. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de uma melhor avaliação do teste de IFI realizada com eluato, como único método de diagnóstico para LVC no município do Rio de Janeiro