Thermal Dose Inactivation of Escherichia coli by Magnetic Induced Hyperthermia

Background: Apoptosis of mutated cells via magnetic hyperthermia has gained advocacy as technology capable of being used in lieu of chemotherapy for targeting cancer tumors. Progress of nanotechnology offers effective remote heating of magnetic fluid via hyperthermia. The heating and specific power absorption of these nanoparticles use in the magnetic fluid are dependent on particle properties and treatment locations. Methods: Nanoparticles were fabricated using microfluidic system by interaction of two solutions containing 2Fe(NO3)3+FeSO4 and NaOH+2%Dextran to create nanostructured media with a biocompatible dextran coating and a Fe3O4 core. The nanoparticles, of a concentration of 5mg/ml, were placed in a vile containing Luria-Bertani (LB) media with approximately 2.0x108 cells. The vile was inserted into a DM100 Series Magnetic Hyperthermia Device that provides an alternating magnetic field of 300 Gauss with a frequency of 604KHz. Results: Magnetite produced via the microfluidic systems at flow rate of 0.04mL/s showed uniform particle size distribution with average size 10nm and saturation magnetization up to 60emu/g as well as pure-phase of Fe3O4 with high crystallinity. Zero-Field-Cooled and Field-Cooled measurements indicated a superparamagnetic nature of as synthesized particles with a low blocking temperature that varies by the amount of dextran introduced in the mixture. Conclusions: The superparamagnetic nanoparticles were heated up to 60°C, inciting a heat shock effect that led to the destruction of the E.coli bacteria. The specific power absorption value obtained was 130 W/g, showing that magnetite–dextran nanostructured fluid appears to be a promising active media for the local magnetic hyperthermia for cancer therapy

Microsatellite transferability from Brachiaria ruziziensis to B. humidicola and genetic similarity among evaluated genotypes.

Species from the genus Brachiaria play an important role in tropical pastures. Brachiaria ruziziensis presents di and tetraploid cytotypes and B. humidicola presents from tetra to heptaploid cytotypes. Although they belong to the same genus, these species belong to different agamic complexes

Development of A Novel Fluorescent NIR Probe for Cancer Bioimaging

Background: Optimal cancer bioimaging is imperative and come in various forms, ranging from screening to detection and surgical guidance. Current imaging tools being used are not cancer-specific and tend to expose patients to radiation. Therefore, there is a crucial need to develop newer and safer imaging modalities. Near InfraRed fluorescence (NIRF) agents have been gaining great attraction for cancer imaging in the past years, because of their high resolution/sensitivity, low cost, and real-time visualization/imaging capabilities without ionizing radiation. Hence, NIRF-based cancer imaging counterpoises some of the obstacles elicited by traditional imaging. Indocyanine green (ICG) is the only FDA approved NIR fluorescent probe for cancer imaging and image guided surgery in clinical settings. However, ICG has several limitations associated with its photostability, high concentration toxicity, and short circulation time. Additionally, internalization of ICG is not cancer-specific. To overcome this, we engineered a novel poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and tannic acid (TA) based nanosystem (PVT) to carry ICG to cancer cells/tissues. Methods: Pursuing the novel nanoimaging approach, our lab has developed PVP-TA-based ICG (PVT-ICG) fluorescent nanoparticles. An IVIS imaging system was used to measure NIR fluorescence of PVT-ICG and its physiochemical properties were further characterized. Moreover, human breast, pancreatic, liver, and prostate cancer cell lines, and cancer tissue microarrays (TMAs) were histochemically stained to assess cancer cell targeting/specificity of PVT-ICG. Results: PVT-ICG indicated particle size and surface charge ideal for cancer cell/tissue delivery. Furthermore, PVT-ICG demonstrated improved fluorescent intensity. Cellular and tissue-binding studies exhibited a superior cancer targeting/specificity achieved from PVT-ICG nanoparticles compared to free ICG dye in all cancer cells/TMAs Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggest that this NIRF probe PVT-ICG has great potential for becoming a novel and safe imaging modality for various types of cancer cells and tumors which can result in early cancer diagnosis leading to improved disease management

Project 20: Midwives’ insight into continuity of care models for women with social risk factors: what works, for whom, in what circumstances, and how

Introduction Continuity of care models are known to improve clinical outcomes for women and their babies, but it is not understood how. A realist synthesis of how women with social risk factors experience UK maternity care reported mechanisms thought to improve clinical outcomes and experiences. As part of a broader programme of work to test those theories and fill gaps in the literature base we conducted focus groups with midwives working within continuity of care models of care for women with social factors that put them at a higher chance of having poor birth outcomes. These risk factors can include poverty and social isolation, asylum or refugee status, domestic abuse, mental illness, learning difficulties, and substance abuse problems. Objective To explore the insights of midwives working in continuity models of care for women with social risk factors in order to understand the resources they provide, and how the model of care can improve women’s outcomes. Design Realist methodology was used to gain a deeper understanding of how women react to specific resources that the models of care offer and how these resources are thought to lead to particular outcomes for women. Twelve midwives participated, six from a continuity of care model implemented in a community setting serving an area of deprivation in London, and six from a continuity of care model for women with social risk factors, based within a large teaching hospital in London. Findings Three main themes were identified: ‘Perceptions of the model of care, ‘Tailoring the service to meet women’s needs’, ‘Going above and beyond’. Each theme is broken down into three subthemes to reveal specific resources or mechanisms which midwives felt might have an impact on women’s outcomes, and how women with different social risk factors respond to these mechanisms. Conclusions/implications for practice Overall the midwives in both models of care felt the service was beneficial to women and had a positive impact on their outcomes. It was thought the trusting relationships they had built with women enabled midwives to guide women through a fragmented, unfamiliar system and respond to their individual physical, emotional, and social needs, whilst ensuring follow-up of appointments and test results. Midwives felt that for these women the impact of a trusting relationship affected how much information women disclosed, allowing for enhanced, needs led, holistic care. Interesting mechanisms were identified when discussing women who had social care involvement with midwives revealing techniques they used to advocate for women and help them to regain trust in the system and demonstrate their parenting abilities. Differences in how each team provided care and its impact on women’s outcomes were considered with the midwives in the community-based model reporting how their location enabled them to help women integrate into their local community and make use of specialist services. The study demonstrates the complexity of these models of care, with midwives using innovative and compassionate ways of working to meet the multifaceted needs of this population

Sexuality Education Websites for Adolescents: A Framework-Based Content Analysis

The web has unique potential for adolescents seeking comprehensive sexual health information. As such, it is important to understand the nature, scope, and readability of the content and messaging provided by sexuality educational websites. We conducted a content analysis of 14 sexuality education websites for adolescents, based on the 7 essential components (sexual and reproductive health and HIV, relationships, sexual rights and sexual citizenship, pleasure, violence, diversity, and gender) of the International Planned Parenthood Framework for Comprehensive Sexuality Education. A majority of content across all sites focused on sexual and reproductive health and HIV, particularly pregnancy and STI prevention, and other information about STIs and HIV. No other topic comprised more than 10% of content coverage across a majority of sites. The authors found little discussion of gender issues, sexual rights, sexual diversity, or sexual violence. Most sites provided brief references to sexual pleasure, generally moderated with cautionary words. The language used implied a heterosexual female audience. Reading levels for most sites were above the 9th-grade level, with several at the college level. These findings have implications for enhancing online sexuality education and broadening the coverage of essential topics

RELATIONSHIP AMONG SYMPTOMS SCORE,PROSTATE VOLUME AND URINARY FLOW RATES IN 543 PATIENTS WITH AND WIHTOUT BPH

BACKGROUND. Studies on the relationship among symptom score, urinary flow rate, and prostate volume in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) continue to be of great interest. METHODS. A total of 2,418 men, aged 30-86 years, agreed to participate in an interview and to complete a questionnaire regarding voiding patterns. All subjects answering positively to one or more of the questions were submitted to a diagnostic assessment, based on the algorithm outlined by the guidelines of the International Consultation on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Five hundred forty-three out of the 2,418 participants (22.45%) were evaluated. At the end of the diagnostic evaluation, 400 men with LUTS but without concomitant conditions (except BPH) known to interfere with normal voiding were selected. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize age, symptom score (International Prostate Symptom Score), prostate volume, and urinary flow rate distribution in these patients. Correlations among the aforementioned parameters were evaluated by means of a multivariate, multiple linear regression and logistic regression model. RESULTS. As reported in other studies, only weak or modest correlations were found. Moreover, the 400 cases were classified according to four age decades. The decrease in peak and mean flow rate per decade of age was similar (0.5 and 0.4 ml/sec); the increase in prostate volume and in total symptom score per decade was 3.3 cc and 0.6, respectively. In patients less than 50 years old, most of the correlations were stronger than those observed in the entire population of 400 men (age and prostate volume, c.c. 0.2864; age and peak flow rate, c.c. -0.2689; age and mean flow rate, c.c. -0.3034). However, symptom score continued to be weakly correlated with age and prostate volume (c.c. 0.0498 and 0.1966, respectively). In the last part of the study, men were assigned to different treatment strategies. Patients who were assigned to surgical treatment had higher prostate volume and IPSS and lower urinary flow rate than those assigned to nonsurgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS. We believe that the reason for the weak statistical association frequently reported in the literature is mainly the urology clinic-based population from which the patient samples were drawn. Data emerging from this analysis support the hypothesis that age is one of the principal factors influencing the relationship among symptom score, urinary flow rate, and prostate volume. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and propensity towards HPV vaccine of young adult students in Italy

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), representing the main cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. This cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection, related diseases, and prevention and propensity towards HPV vaccine among undergraduate students. Methods: An online and written survey about HPV and its prevention, targeted to young adults of both genders, was addressed to students attending health sciences and other schools at Universities of Genoa and Bari. Results: The overall median knowledge and attitude scores were 56.3% (25\u201375 p = 40\u201368.8%) and four out of five (25\u201375 p = 4\u20135), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, attending a health sciences university, using social networks 642 h a day, a history of STI, having heard about HPV and HPV vaccine previously resulted as predictors of higher knowledge scores. Having heard about HPV previously also predicted a high attitude score, together with a perceived economic status as good. Having Italian and healthcare worker parents, being employed, and following a specific diet, instead, predicted lower attitude score. Conclusions: Poor knowledge and good attitudes were found among undergraduates about HPV. In order to increase HPV vaccine compliance and the counselling skills of future healthcare workers, the improvement of training on HPV is needed