Radiolabelled peptides for oncological diagnosis

Radiolabelled receptor-binding peptides targeting receptors (over)expressed on tumour cells are widely under investigation for tumour diagnosis and therapy. The concept of using radiolabelled receptor-binding peptides to target receptor-expressing tissues in vivo has stimulated a large body of research in nuclear medicine. The 111In-labelled somatostatin analogue octreotide (OctreoScan™) is the most successful radiopeptide for tumour imaging, and was the first to be approved for diagnostic use. Based on the success of these studies, other receptor-targeting peptides such as cholecystokinin/gastrin analogues, glucagon-like peptide-1, bombesin (BN), chemokine receptor CXCR4 targeting peptides, and RGD peptides are currently under development or undergoing clinical trials. In this review, we discuss some of these peptides and their analogues, with regard to their potential for radionuclide imaging of tumours

Non-Standard Errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence-generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective

Abstract China is currently the world's largest producer of food irradiation. Despite the long‐standing (about 100 years) evidence supporting the safety of food irradiation, consumers’ acceptance of irradiated foods remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the development of food irradiation in China and identify the barriers that keep consumers away from irradiated foods. This was accomplished by exploring the relevant policies of food irradiation, the size and distribution of irradiation facilities in China, and analyzing their relationships between consumer characteristics and the acceptance of irradiated food. To achieve these objectives, we conducted an online survey of participants from Hubei, China (N = 264). The results reveal that irradiation facilities are mainly distributed in large coastal cities such as the Bohai Bay, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Greater Bay Area. Furthermore, the study identified that consumer’ acceptance of irradiated food is directly related to their level of understanding. Approximately 22% of the sampled consumers reported that they would not accept that they have consumed irradiated food and most of them (41%) stated that they would not purchase irradiated food if they were aware of buying irradiated food. Specifically, consumers expressed discomfort with consuming irradiated food under unknown circumstances. This trend is more prevalent among female, low‐educated, and older consumers, with 40% of the sampled population indicating that they would not buy irradiated food. Given the strong correlation between knowledge and acceptance of irradiated foods, the study suggests that policy reform should prioritize enhancing the understanding of irradiated food, particularly among female, low‐educated, and older consumers

WGP alters the suppressive capacity of regulatory T cells in spleens.

<p>Groups of mice (n = 6) bearing established Lewis lung carcinoma were treated as described in <i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0046936#s4" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a></i>. (A, B, C) Single cell suspensions from spleens (A), draining lymph nodes (B) and tumor tissues (C) were stained with fluorochrome labeled mAbs to evaluate the proportions of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs. Cells were gated on CD4⁺ T cells. RNAs from tumor specimens were extracted and Foxp3 mRNA expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR. (D) Splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs isolated from tumor-bearing mice treated with or without WGP were co-cultured with CD4⁺CD25⁻ Teffs from wild type C57BL/6 mice in the presence of anti-CD3 mAb and anti-CD28 mAb for 72 h. Wells were pulsed with 1 µCi/well [³H]-thymidine and analyzed as described in <i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0046936#s4" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a></i>. **P<0.01, *P<0.05, N.S. represents no significance between columns.</p

WGP induces enhanced CTL priming <i>in vivo</i>.

<p>Groups of mice (n = 6) bearing established Lewis lung carcinoma were treated as described in <i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0046936#s4" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a></i>. (A, B) Single cell suspensions prepared from spleens (A) and draining lymph nodes (B) were stimulated with PMA plus ionomycin and stained intracellular IFN-γ. Cells were gated on CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells. Culture supernatants from splenocytes and lymphoid cells were collected and assayed for IFN-γ using ELISA. (C) Tumor specimens from each group were prepared for single cell suspensions. Cells were stained with mAbs against CD3, CD8 and were assessed by flow cytometry. Cells were gated on CD3⁺ T cells. RNAs from tumor specimens were extracted and qRT-PCR was performed for IFN-γ. Results are expressed as mean ± SD. **P<0.01, *P<0.05, N.S. represents no significance between columns.</p