In Vivo Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for Spontaneous Tumors in Large Animals: Case Series

(1) Background: accelerator-based neutron sources are a new frontier for BNCT but many technical issues remain. We aimed to study such issues and results in larger-animal BNCT (cats and dogs) with naturally occurring, malignant tumors in different locations as an intermediate step in translating current research into clinical practice. (2) Methods: 10 pet cats and dogs with incurable, malignant tumors that had no treatment alternatives were included in this study. A tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation was used as a neutron source. As a boron-containing agent, 10B-enriched sodium borocaptate (BSH) was used at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Animal condition as well as tumor progression/regression were monitored. (3) Results: regression of tumors in response to treatment, improvements in the overall clinical picture, and an increase in the estimated duration and quality of life were observed. Treatment-related toxicity was mild and reversible. (4) Conclusions: our study contributes to preparations for human BNCT clinical trials and suggests utility for veterinary oncology.

Greater and More Natural Use of the Upper Limbs During Everyday Life by Former Amputees Versus Prosthesis Users

Hand loss profoundly impacts daily functioning. Reversal of amputation through hand replantation or transplantation offers an alternative to prosthetics for some. Whether recipients exhibit more extensive and natural limb use during everyday life than prosthesis users is, however, unknown. We asked unilateral, below-elbow amputees (N = 22), hand graft recipients (transplants N = 4; replants N = 2), and healthy matched controls (N = 20) to wear wireless accelerometers distally on their forearms/prostheses and proximally on their upper arms. These units captured limb activity over 3 days within participants’ natural environments. Graft recipients exhibited heavier reliance on their affected hands compared to amputees’ reliance on their prostheses, P < .001. Likewise, reliance on the injured side upper arm was also greater for hand graft recipients than amputees, regardless of whether they were wearing their prostheses, P < .05 in both cases. Hand graft recipients, like healthy controls, also relied more on forearm vs upper arm movements when controlling their limbs, P < .001. Compared with conventional prosthesis users, graft recipients exhibited more extensive and natural functioning of the upper limbs during everyday activities. This information is an important addition to other considerations when evaluating risk-benefit of these treatment alternatives.

Fexofenadine HCl Microspheres – Can it be the First Line therapy for Allergic Disorders ?

Fexofenadine HCl is a second-generation antihistamine which is commonly used for allergic disorders. But it has low bioavailability. Intranasal corticosteroids (INCs) and Immunotherapy and Allergen Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT) are now commonly being suggested for the treatment of allergic disorders. Despite the fact that current treatment alternatives have been in use for decades, patient quality of life has remained static. The treatment options are not much explored for their respective adverse effects. Therefore, they are in desperate need of research. Fexofenadine HCl is available in the form of a suspension, tablet, or capsule. In our current study, we have explored whether microspheres can be the perfect dosage form of Fexofenadine HCl to treat allergic disorders considering the pharmacokinetics of the drug, available dosage forms options and the probable side effects of the current therapies.

An Up-to-Date Review of Natural Nanoparticles for Cancer Management

Cancer represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an urgent need to develop more efficient treatment alternatives. In this respect, much attention has been drawn from conventional cancer treatments to more modern approaches, such as the use of nanotechnology. Extensive research has been done for designing innovative nanoparticles able to specifically target tumor cells and ensure the controlled release of anticancer agents. To avoid the potential toxicity of synthetic materials, natural nanoparticles started to attract increasing scientific interest. In this context, this paper aims to review the most important natural nanoparticles used as active ingredients (e.g., polyphenols, polysaccharides, proteins, and sterol-like compounds) or as carriers (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, viral nanoparticles, and exosomes) of various anticancer moieties, focusing on their recent applications in treating diverse malignancies.

45,X/46,XY Mosaicism with Male Phenotype: Case Report

Mixed gonadal dysgenesis is the most common chromosomal abnormality with ambiguous genitalia, defined as a 45,X/46,XY mosaicism. It can present with a normal male phenotype, ambiguous genitalia, or features of Turner syndrome. A 14-year-old patient was referred to the genetics clinic due to hypospadia, cryptorchidism, and aortic coarctation. During the physical examination, short stature, webbed neck, and Blashko lines on his back were noted. He had a previous karyotype reported as normal. However, due to an inadequate evolution and a low resolution on the previous test, a higher resolution karyotype was performed, identifying a mosaicism 45,X/46,XY. A multidisciplinary board examined the case, and follow-up with tumor markers was carried out to evaluate the presence of gonadoblastoma, one of the main complications in these patients. Treatment should be transdisciplinary and focused on the particular characteristics of each case. Other treatment alternatives include corrective surgery and hormonal therapy.

Advances in Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Technology for Greywater Treatment: A Review

Advances in microfiltration and ultrafiltration technology for the treatment of greywater are important today because everything surrounding the use and preservation of water is an issue that increases in importance over the decades, and our planet will be seriously affected by the consequences of climate change, making water availability uncertain. Hence, wastewater recycling and its cyclical use have become a major topic in the scientific and engineering communities. The objective of this research is focused on compiling and updating all the advances in wastewater treatment, with emphasis on Greywater, in which components have a lower pollutant load than the rest of wastewater. In addition, microfiltration and ultrafiltration technologies were the technology selected to investigate in this investigation because they have the local potential for a second use of the wastewater before the discharge of contaminated water to the sanitation network. This research was carried out using words related to the exposed topic, such as “microfiltration”, “ultrafiltration”, “cleaning wastewater” and “greywater” in the search for documents in scientific search engines, selecting those that covered the topic and could be used to create this document. The results that were developed in this investigation, indicate that there is no generalized consensus on how to treat this greywater, nor how to qualify it. Additionally, it is important to note that despite the fact that urban greywater treatments have given good results, with the widespread use of bioreactors for this task, and the existence of various treatment alternatives for liquid waste that have shown good price-value ratio, studies related to greywater treatments using porosities are still in the incipient stages.

A personalized decision aid for prostate cancer shared decision making

Background A shared decision-making model is preferred for engaging prostate cancer patients in treatment decisions. However, the process of assessing an individual’s preferences and values is challenging and not formalized. The purpose of this study is to develop an automated decision aid for patient-centric treatment decision-making using decision analysis, preference thresholds and value elicitations to maximize the compatibility between a patient’s treatment expectations and outcome. Methods A template for patient-centric medical decision-making was constructed. The inputs included prostate cancer risk group, pre-treatment health state, treatment alternatives (primarily focused on radiation in this model), side effects (erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, nocturia and bowel incontinence), and treatment success (5-year freedom from biochemical failure). A linear additive value function was used to combine the values for each attribute (side effects, success and the alternatives) into a value for all prospects. The patient-reported toxicity probabilities were derived from phase II and III trials. The probabilities are conditioned on the starting state for each of the side effects. Toxicity matrices for erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, nocturia and bowel incontinence were created for the treatment alternatives. Toxicity probability thresholds were obtained by identifying the patient’s maximum acceptable threshold for each of the side effects. Results are represented as a visual. R and Rstudio were used to perform analyses, and R Shiny for application creation. Results We developed a web-based decision aid. Based on preliminary use of the application, every treatment alternative could be the best choice for a decision maker with a particular set of preferences. This result implies that no treatment has determinist dominance over the remaining treatments and that a preference-based approach can help patients through their decision-making process, potentially affecting compliance with treatment, tolerance of side effects and satisfaction with the decision. Conclusions We present a unique patient-centric prostate cancer treatment decision aid that systematically assesses and incorporates a patient’s preferences and values to rank treatment options by likelihood of achieving the preferred outcome. This application enables the practice and study of personalized medicine. This model can be expanded to include additional inputs, such as genomics, as well as competing, concurrent or sequential therapies.

Cost Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Wastewater Reuse from Secondary and Tertiary Wastewater Treatment Plants

Irrigation with reclaimed water is a widespread solution to coping with water scarcity, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This paper presents a systematic evaluation approach of six treatment alternatives proposed for Alexandria WWTP in Egypt as an applied example. This approach evaluates the effluent quality and cubic meter price from the proposed treatment alternatives while managing the health risks associated with reclaimed water irrigation. Rotavirus, Salmonella, Giardia duodenalis, and Ascaris were studied as waterborne pathogens. A quantitative microbial risk assessment model was used for the estimation of annual infection risks. The exposure scenarios include farmers and vegetable consumers. Activated sludge provided the lowest costs; however, it gave the lowest efficiencies and highest health risks. On the other hand, the highest efficiency and lowest health risks were obtained by the membrane bioreactor. The resulting price of a cubic meter of treated wastewater, used in irrigation, ranged from 0.082 to 0.133 USD. Irrigation using tertiary-treated wastewater achieved the target infection risk for unrestricted irrigation without using advanced treatment facilities. The results of this study could give a comprehensive view of reusing wastewater to decision-makers to address both water and food poverty not only in Egypt but also in other countries in MENA with similar economic and agro-ecological conditions.