Development and Characterization of a Novel Peptide-Loaded Antimicrobial Ocular Insert

Infectious ocular keratitis is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Bacterial resistance to classical pharmacological treatments raised the interest of researchers towards antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-based therapy. hLF 1-11, a synthetic antimicrobial peptide derived from the N-terminus of human lactoferrin, proved effective against different bacteria and yeast but, like all proteinaceous materials, it is unstable from chemical, physical, and biological points of view. In this study, new freeze-dried solid matrices containing mucoadhesive polymers were prepared and characterized in terms of rheology, hydration time, bioadhesion, drug content, and in vitro release. The formulation HPMC/T2/HA/hLF 1-11fd was selected for the delivery of hLF 1-11, since it showed good drug recovery and no chemical degradation up to at least 6 months (long-term stability). Furthermore, the HPMC/T2/HA/hLF 1-11fd matrix allowed for the release of the drug in a simulated physiological environment, linked to an optimal hydration time, and the peptide antimicrobial activity was preserved for up to 15 months of storage, a very promising result considering the chemical liability of proteinaceous material. For its properties, the freeze-dried matrix developed in this study could be a good platform for the delivery of antimicrobial peptides in the precorneal area to treat infectious phenomena of the ocular surface

The impact of infertility and physical late effects on psycho-social well-being of long-term childhood cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Describe how physical late effects, and particularly fertility, impact on the psycho-social well-being (anxiety, depression and perception of HRQoL) in a cohort of childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Methods: Eligibility criteria: a) cancer diagnosis at age  5 years; c) age at the time of the study > 18 years and < 35 years. CCS with severe cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, or conditions otherwise hampering the participation to the study were excluded. Psychological evaluation included Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS), Satisfaction-Profile (SAT-P) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Late effects have been grouped using the St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study-modified version of the National Cancer Institute’s CTCAE version 4.03. Results: 205 CCS were included (response rate: 80.08%; 58.05% male, 40.00% between 18 and 24 years at the time of the study, 74.36% diagnosis of hematologic malignancies). Moderate or severe anxiety was found in only 3,90% of CCS. More than 35% reported depressive symptoms. The prevalence of any grade of anxiety or depression increases with the increasing of the number of late effects (from 4.08% to 17.14% and from 24.49% to 42.86%, respectively). At least mild depressive symptoms have been reported by 56.33% of CCS affected by reproductive/genital late effects. Reproductive/genital late effect (p = 0.001) and female gender (p = 0.002) significantly predict the risk of depression. CCS with 2 or more late effects and those with reproductive/genital late effects reported a reduced satisfaction in psychological and physical function. Discussion: CCS globally show a satisfactory psychological health, but infertility or a high number of physical late effects enhance the risk of depression and impaired HRQoL

Papillary carcinoma in amyloid goitre

Amyloid goitre is a rare lesion characterized by a diffuse and bilateral enlargement of the thyroid gland due to amyloid deposition. It is uncommon that a massive and widespread amount of adipose tissue deposition is found within these lesions and only in exceptional cases a differentiated carcinoma can develop. We describe the third example of thyroid carcinoma, arising in a 74-year old female who had also massive adipose thyroidal metaplasia, within amyloid goitre. The Congo red stain confirmed the diagnosis of amyloid goitre. Immunohistochemistry showed reactivity with MoAb against amyloid fibril protein A. The patient suffered from renal failure of undetermined aetiology for three years, but neither systemic amyloidosis nor risk factors for its development were found. It is important to correctly diagnose amyloid goitre both to rule out the presence of a differentiated thyroidal carcinoma and to search for amyloid infiltration in other organs in view of an early appropriate therap

Work Placement and Job Satisfaction in Long-Term Childhood Cancer Survivors: The Impact of Late Effects

Late effects of cancer and its treatments during childhood or adolescence can impact work placement and increase the risk of unemployment. The aim of this study is to describe the work placement and the perceived job and economic satisfaction of long-term childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Jobs have been categorized according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations version 08 (ISCO-08), and satisfaction has been evaluated through the Satisfaction Profile (SAT-P). Out of 240 CCS (female = 98) included: 53 were students, 46 were unemployed and 141 were employed. Within unemployed survivors, 89.13% were affected by late effects (n = 41). The presence of at least one severe late effect was significantly associated with the probability of unemployment (OR 3.21; 95% CI 1.13&ndash;9.12, p &lt; 0.050), and having any late effect was inversely related to the level of satisfaction of the financial situation of unemployed CCS (b &minus;35.47; 95% CI &minus;59.19, &minus;11.74, p = 0.004). Our results showed that being a survivor with severe comorbidities has a significantly negative impact on occupation and worsens the perception of satisfaction of economic situations. Routinary follow-up care of CCS should include the surveillance of socioeconomic development and provide interventions, helping them to reach jobs suitable for their health

Galectin-3, a marker of well differentiated thyroid carcinoma, is expressed in thyroid nodules with cytological atypia

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Pharmacodynamic effects in the cerebrospinal fluid of rats after intravenous administration of different asparaginase formulations

Asparaginase (ASNase) is used to treat various hematological malignancies for its capacity to deplete asparagine (ASN) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Since the biological mechanisms underlying CSF asparagine depletion in humans are not yet fully elucidated, this study compared, for the first time, the pharmacological properties of three clinically used ASNase formulations in a rodent model