Therapeutic Options for Localized Carcinoma of the Prostate: The Role of External Beam Radiation Therapy

During the last three decades the use of ionizing radiation, both external beam radiotherapy and interstitial radionuclide implant (brachytherapy), has greatly increased for the treatment of cancer of the prostate. The increased use of radiation therapy is in part due to the technological advance of high-energy megavoltage units as well as the steadily improving long-term results of radiotherapy. Because of the comparable tumor control rates, patients with early stage prostate cancer have several therapeutic options for curative treatment including radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy, and interstitial brachytherapy. The role of external beam radiotherapy is discussed in terms of the primary management of early and locally advanced prostate cancers as well as the treatment of residual or recurrent disease after prostatectomy. A new approach combines antimitotic chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy for the treatment of locally advanced cancers of the prostate

Characterization of the yehUT Two-Component Regulatory System of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi and Typhimurium

10.1371/journal.pone.0084567PLoS ONE812-POLN

Eletrofiação do poli (álcool vinílico) via solução aquosa Electrospinning of aqueous solution of poly (vinyl alcohol)

Neste trabalho foi sintetizado o poli(álcool vinílico) (PVOH) através da hidrólise alcalina do poli (acetato de vinila). As mantas nanofibrílicas de PVOH foram processadas através da eletrofiação das soluções de PVOH/água e PVOH/água/cloreto de alumínio, ambos na concentração de 12,4% m/v. A morfologia das fibras foi analisada através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). O grau de cristalinidade dos materiais foi medido por calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) e difração raios x de alto ângulo (WAXD). Os efeitos da tensão elétrica aplicada e da presença de cloreto de alumínio foram verificados na morfologia e no diâmetro médio das fibras de PVOH. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as fibras de PVOH na ausência do cloreto de alumínio apresentaram diâmetros maiores do que na presença do cloreto de alumínio devido à diferença observada na condutividade elétrica das soluções. Variando-se a tensão de 15 a 18 kV foi observado um decréscimo 140 nm no diâmetro médio das fibras. A cristalinidade das fibras eletrofiadas com sal e sem sal é menor do que para o PVOH isotrópico.<br>Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) was prepared by solution polymerization of vinyl acetate. PVOH nanofibers were produced by electrospinning in aqueous solution of 12.4% w/v with and without 1% v/v of aluminum chloride. The nanofiber morphology was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The degree of cristallinity was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle x ray diffraction (WAXD). The effects of electric voltage and the addition of aluminum chloride were verified on the morphology and average fiber diameter. The results showed that the PVOH nanofibers without aluminum chloride had diameters higher than the nanofibers prepared with the salt due to the different electrical conductivity of the solutions. A decrease of 140 nm on the average diameter fibers was observed when the voltage varied from 15 to 18 kV. The nanofibers crystallinity with and without salt was lower than the isotropic PVOH

Molecular insight into invasive group A streptococcal disease

Streptococcus pyogenes is also known as group A Streptococcus (GAS) and is an important human pathogen that causes considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The GAS serotype M1T1 clone is the most frequently isolated serotype from life-threatening invasive (at a sterile site) infections, such as streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis. Here, we describe the virulence factors and newly discovered molecular events that mediate the in vivo changes from non-invasive GAS serotype M1T1 to the invasive phenotype, and review the invasive-disease trigger for non-M1 GAS. Understanding the molecular basis and mechanism of initiation for streptococcal invasive disease may expedite the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment and control of severe invasive GAS diseases