Evaluation and In Vitro Studies of Folate PEG Biotin and Other PEG agents

Folate is an essential component for cell growth and cell division, playing a major role in DNA synthesis. It is common sense that the rapidly dividing cells synthesize more DNA, including cancer cells. Also, it was reported that cancer cells over express Folate receptors and this was the basis for our probe for cancer cells. We used long PEG biotin in conjugation with Folate. Previous studies in our group showed that the PEG could be used in the sensor to detect and capture cancer cells. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of Long PEG containing Folate based biotin probe in capturing cancer cells from solution, which will be the sensing portion in immune polymerase chain reactions (PCR) detection scheme. Here we report an extremely facile, cheap and rapid method of coupling long PEG with Folate and Biotin in comparison with those antibody based conjugation techniques. The synthesis of the probe was based on standard solid phase FMOC synthesis using a conjugatable long PEG biotin scaffold a simple and a 3-4 step process using a simple syringe based method. The probe, after preparation, was purified and characterized using HPLC diode array analysis, and LC- mass spectrometry. Future studies will include high-resolution fluorescent imaging to show the probe’s selective binding to cancerous cells like FR-alpha positive cells utilizing fluorescently labeled streptavidin. Biotin-avidin pair has the strongest known affinity Kd = 10-15 almost equivalent to chemical bond Wherever appropriate, folic acid competition experiments and alternative cell lines devoid of FR alpha receptors will be used as controls to demonstrate selective and binding affinity. Ultimately, we intend to perform real-time PCR studies with FR-alpha protein standards. These latter aims will involve additional student research projects

Two Cases of Paradoxical Hidradenitis Suppurativa while on Adalimumab

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurring abscesses, nodules, and fistulas predominantly in the groin and axillae. The association between HS and Crohn’s disease (CD) has been well documented. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have shown to be effective in treating both HS and CD. We report 2 patients who developed HS while on TNF inhibitor treatment for CD

Two Cases of Paradoxical Hidradenitis Suppurativa while on Adalimumab

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurring abscesses, nodules, and fistulas predominantly in the groin and axillae. The associationbetween HS and Crohn"s disease (CD) has been well documented. Tumor necrosis factor(TNF) inhibitors have shown to be effective in treating both HS and CD. We report 2 patientswho developed HS while on TNF inhibitor treatment for CD

Transcatheter therapy in partially abnormal pulmonary venous return with additional drainage to the left atrium

Background A persistent anastomosis between the pulmonary veins that connect with the left atrium and the systemic vein that drains into the right atrium has occasionally been reported. We report characteristics and transcatheter therapy in partially abnormal pulmonary venous return with additional drainage to the left atrium. Methods We retrospectively studied such patients in 5 institutions. Results Ten patients (6 girls) presented at a median age of 8 (0.1 to 54) years with 2 anatomic types: 8 vertical vein types with drainage of the left upper lobe to the innominate vein via a large vertical vein (left superior cardinal vein) and to the left atrium via the left upper pulmonary vein; and 2 scimitar vein (SV) types with drainage of the right middle and lower pulmonary veins into the inferior vena cava and to the left atrium via an anomalous connecting vein. Associated malformations were aortic coarctation (n = 2) and secundum atrial septal defects (n = 3). Two patients of the vertical vein type were operated. Transcatheter occlusion of the abnormal pulmonary venous return was performed in 7 cases, associated with occlusion of systemic arterial supply (n = 2), secundum atrial septal closure (n = 2), left upper pulmonary vein stenosis stenting (n = 1), and coarctation stenting (n = 1). Including previously published cases, 18 patients (13 vertical veins and 5 scimitar veins) underwent transcatheter repair. Patients over 40 years of age tend to be symptomatic at presentation (p = 0.056). Conclusion In partially abnormal pulmonary venous return with dual drainage, transcatheter therapy can be offered in the majority of patients. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd