The effect of treatment temperature on corrosion resistance and hydrophilicity of an ionic liquid coating for mg-based stents

Mg alloys are attractive candidate materials for biodegradable stents. However, there are few commercially available Mg-based stents in clinical use because Mg alloys generally undergo rapid localized corrosion in the body. In this study, we report a new surface coating for Mg alloy AZ31 based on a low-toxicity ionic liquid (IL), tributyl(methyl)phosphonium diphenyl phosphate (P1,4,4,4 dpp), to control its corrosion rate. Emphasis is placed on the effect of treatment temperature. We showed that enhancing the treatment temperature provided remarkable improvements in the performances of both corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Increasing treatment temperature resulted in a thicker (although still nanometer scale) and more homogeneous IL film on the surface. Scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry observations showed that there were many large, deep pits formed on the surface of bare AZ31 after 2 h of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). The IL coating (particularly when formed at 100 °C for 1 h) significantly suppressed the formation of these pits on the surface, making corrosion occur more uniformly. The P1,4,4,4 dpp IL film formed at 100 °C was more hydrophilic than the bare AZ31 surface, which was believed to be beneficial for avoiding the deposition of the proteins and cells on the surface and therefore improving the biocompatibility of AZ31 in blood. The interaction mechanism between this IL and AZ31 was also investigated using ATR-FTIR, which showed that both anion and cation of this IL were present in the film, and there was a chemical interaction between dpp(-) anion and the surface of AZ31 during the film formation.

Unmet needs and distress in people with inoperable lung cancer at the commencement of treatment

Purpose : People with lung cancer report a higher burden of unmet needs, specifically psychological and daily living unmet needs. They experience more psychological distress and more physical hardship than other tumour sites. This study examined the levels of unmet need and psychological distress in inoperable lung cancer patients at the start of treatment.

Methods : A cross-section survey methodology was employed using baseline data from a randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate a supportive care intervention. Eligible lung cancer patients were approached to participate at the start of treatment. Consenting patients completed questionnaires prior to or just after the commencement of treatment. Reliable and valid measures included Needs Assessment for Advanced Lung Cancer Patients, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Brief Distress Thermometer.

Results : Of the 108 patients participating, the top unmet need was ‘Dealing with concerns about your family’s fears and worries’ (62%); with the next four also coming from the psychological/emotional domain, but, on average, most needs related to medical communication. Thirty two percent of patients reported clinical or subclinical anxiety and 19% reported HADS scores suggestive of clinical or subclinical depression. Moreover, 39.8% of the sample reported distress above the cut-off on the distress thermometer and this was associated with higher needs for each need subscale (p < 0.05).

Conclusions : People with lung cancer have high levels of unmet needs especially regarding psychological/emotional or medical communication. People with lung cancer who are classified as distressed have more unmet needs.

Colorectal multidisciplinary meetings: how do they affect the timeliness of treatment?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine whether multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings alter the length of time to treatment (LOTT) for patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective audit of all patients with colorectal cancer from the Geelong Hospital (TGH) mandatory colorectal database from 1 January 2006 to 3 February 2011. To be included, patients had to have had elective surgical intervention for primary colorectal adenocarcinoma. A comparison of historical controls was conducted between patients discussed in MDT meetings and those managed prior to the introduction of MDT meetings (3 October 2006) to determine the LOTT in days from definitive diagnosis (colonoscopy) to definitive management (surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy). RESULTS: In total, the median LOTT for the historical control and MDT era patient populations were 19.5 and 20 days, respectively. Within the MDT era, we noticed significantly longer times to treatment for patients with rectal cancer who were seen in an MDT meeting prior to definitive management than patients who did not have an intervening MDT meeting (P < 0.001). With a difference of 7.5 days, the clinical significance of these findings remains contentious. However, it is worthwhile recognizing this trend in patients who are exhibiting symptoms due to near obstruction or significant bleeding. The LOTT for colon cancer patients remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The introduction of MDT meetings to TGH has prolonged the LOTT for patients with rectal cancer. These findings pave the way for further revision of the efficiency of MDT meeting at TGH.

The burden of severe obesity and the efficiency and equity of treatment

 Severe obesity rates have doubled during the last twenty years, particularly in disadvantaged Australians. Paradoxically, disadvantaged Australians are the least likely group to receive treatment using bariatric surgery. Health care costs for individuals with severe obesity are double the population average. These costs are decreased after bariatric surgery, particularly in individuals with diabetes.

The adaptive compensations in endocrine pancreas from glucocorticoid-treated rats are reversible after the interruption of treatment

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Histopathological evaluation of treatment with chondroitin sulphate for osteoarthritis induced by continuous immobilization in rabbits

The aim of this study was to evaluate histologically the action of chondroitin sulphate in osteoarthritis experimentally induced by continuous immobilization. Fourteen young female Norfolk rabbits aged 2.5-3 months at the beginning of the experiment were divided into two equitable groups submitted to immobilization of the right knee for a period of 12 weeks. The treated group received 1.0 ml/animal/s.c. of 12% chondroitin sulphate, once a week for 12 weeks, and the untreated group did not receive any treatment. Two additional animals were not submitted to knee immobilization (sham group). Microscopical examination of knee preparations stained with haematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome showed lesions of both joints in treated and untreated groups, with no significant difference between the scores obtained for the right and left knees. Examination of preparations stained with picrosirius red showed collagen fibre alignment and misalignment in the right and left knees of the animals of all groups, but statistic analysis could not be performed. It was not possible to differentiate the proteoglycan concentration between limbs or groups (treated and untreated) by safrtanin O or toluidine blue staining. It was possible to conclude that the chondroitin sulphate was not able to reduce the histological changes induced by this osteoarthritis experimental model.

Peritonitis in recent years: clinical findings and predictors of treatment response of 170 episodes at a single Brazilian center

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The development of resistance to caffeine in Drosophila prosaltans: productivity and longevity after ten generations of treatment

The productivity of Drosophila prosaltans treated with six concentrations of caffeine (from 50 mu g/ml to 2,500 mu g/ml of culture medium) during ten generations (similar to 8 months) decreased in a dosage dependent manner in every generation, but at the end of the treatment the flies in all experiments recovered normal productivity, except for those treated with 2,500 mu g/ml. Longevity in the tenth generation was significantly reduced in males and females only in the 2,500 mu g/ml dosage, with males being much more affected than females. In a previous study in which the treatment was done in a single generation, productivity exhibited only a partial recovery when the treatment ceased and longevity was significantly reduced in 1,500 mu g/ml dosages. The hypothesis of selection occurring in ten generations leading to recovery in productivity and to a reduction in the processes which cause a decrease in longevity is being considered.

Delayed results of treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis with amphotericin B plus sulfamides versus amphotericin B alone

Os Autores avaliam tardiamente dois grupos de doentes de paracoccidioidomicose. Ambos foram tratados com anfotericina B, tendo um deles feito tratamento de manutenção com sulfamídicos. Através de análises estatísticas comprovam a maior eficácia do tratamento, quando se faz a manutenção com sulfamídicos.