Evaluation of a robotic technique for transrectal MRI-guided prostate biopsies

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy and speed of a novel robotic technique as an aid to perform magnetic resonance image (MRI)-guided prostate biopsies on patients with cancer suspicious regions. METHODS: A pneumatic controlled MR-compatible manipulator with 5 degrees of freedom was developed in-house to guide biopsies under real-time imaging. From 13 consecutive biopsy procedures, the targeting error, biopsy error and target displacement were calculated to evaluate the accuracy. The time was recorded to evaluate manipulation and procedure time. RESULTS: The robotic and manual techniques demonstrated comparable results regarding mean targeting error (5.7 vs 5.8 mm, respectively) and mean target displacement (6.6 vs 6.0 mm, respectively). The mean biopsy error was larger (6.5 vs 4.4 mm) when using the robotic technique, although not significant. Mean procedure and manipulation time were 76 min and 6 min, respectively using the robotic technique and 61 and 8 min with the manual technique. CONCLUSIONS: Although comparable results regarding accuracy and speed were found, the extended technical effort of the robotic technique make the manual technique - currently - more suitable to perform MRI-guided biopsies. Furthermore, this study provided a better insight in displacement of the target during in vivo biopsy procedures.01 februari 201

Estrogen receptor transcription and transactivation: Estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta - regulation by selective estrogen receptor modulators and importance in breast cancer

Estrogens display intriguing tissue-selective action that is of great biomedical importance in the development of optimal therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, for menopausal hormone replacement, and for fertility regulation. Certain compounds that act through the estrogen receptor (ER), now referred to as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), can demonstrate remarkable differences in activity in the various estrogen target tissues, functioning as agonists in some tissues but as antagonists in others. Recent advances elucidating the tripartite nature of the biochemical and molecular actions of estrogens provide a good basis for understanding these tissue-selective actions. As discussed in this thematic review, the development of optimal SERMs should now be viewed in the context of two estrogen receptor subtypes, ERα and ERβ, that have differing affinities and responsiveness to various SERMs, and differing tissue distribution and effectiveness at various gene regulatory sites. Cellular, biochemical, and structural approaches have also shown that the nature of the ligand affects the conformation assumed by the ER-ligand complex, thereby regulating its state of phosphorylation and the recruitment of different coregulator proteins. Growth factors and protein kinases that control the phosphorylation state of the complex also regulate the bioactivity of the ER. These interactions and changes determine the magnitude of the transcriptional response and the potency of different SERMs. As these critical components are becoming increasingly well defined, they provide a sound basis for the development of novel SERMs with optimal profiles of tissue selectivity as medical therapeutic agents

Antimalarial activity and clinical safety of traditionally used Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn.

330-334Traditional systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda and Chinese medicine in Asia have been provided novel concepts and modalities for healthcare. Critical bedside observations by astute physicians have been followed up by systematic trans-disciplinary research. Such clinical hits of novel biodynamic actions can lead to new drug candidates. In the study, this path was taken up to document antimalarial activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. (Parijat). Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn., a popular plant with fragrant flowers described in Ayurveda is being sporadically used for malaria by several Ayurvedic physicians. Patients with malaria were treated with the paste of five fresh leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn, Given orally three times in a day for 7-10 days. The relief of symptoms and signs of malaria and the features of Visham jwara were graded basally and daily. Of 120 patients, ninety two (76.7%) showed complete clinical and parasitic cure within 7 days. Other 20 patients, who then continued on the same treatment, were cured by 10 days. Those patients who did not respond clinically and by parasite clearance were treated with standard antimalarial therapy. Parasite clearance was gradual and showed a direct temporal relationship with the level of initial parasitemia. The paste was well tolerated and no severe side effects were reported. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn, with the dose used showed significant clinical antimalarial activity and good tolerability. A standardized formulation has to be prepared for further studies with critical markers of disease severity as well as parasite clearance