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Nanosized magnetic drug carriers offer a splendid prospect for directed drug application. The increased drug concentration in cancer tissue reached for this kind of application enables therapeutic effects on tumors that cannot be achieved using conventional chemotherapeutic treatment. Characterizing the drug targeting system and its behavior in vitro is necessary for understanding the biological outcome. In our studies, IRspectroscopy shows covalent binding of the bioeompatible fatty acid layer. Although binding of mitoxantrone (MTO) to particles is hardly defined, considerable amounts of drug can be carried by nanopaxticles. Furthermore, the nanosized drug carrier complex has to be investigated due to its biological outcome. Real-time cell analysis is useful to observe the therapeutic particles concerning their outcome in cell culture time-resolved up to several days. First experiments in concordance to a conventional assay show that the effectivity of nanoparticle bound MTO in cell culture is higher than treatment with pure MTO. A preliminary study demonstrates that the burden of the immune system is reduced by Magnetic Drug Targeting (MDT) vs. conventional chemotherapy. For a better understanding of MDT for cancer treatment, further studies have to be done to explain especially the binding behavior of superpaxamagnetic iron oxide nanopaxticles to the respective chemotherapeutic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to different algorithms of airway management, emergency cricothyrotomy is the final step in managing an otherwise not accessible airway. As an alternative to an open surgical procedure, minimally invasive approaches exist. Quicktrach baby™ is a commercially available set for a minimal invasive cricothyrotomy in infants. The set consists of a plastic cannula over a metal needle for direct placement in the trachea. So far, this device has not been evaluated for its intended use. We hypothesize that Quicktrach baby™ allows the establishment of an emergency airway. The aim was to prove that the device is easy to handle and the cricothyrotomy fast to perform. After approval of the local ethics committee, the study was performed on the cadavers of 10 adult rabbits. Cricothyrotomy was performed with Quicktrach baby™. Successful placement, performance time, and complication rate were documented. Possible ventilation with a breathing bag was evaluated. Data are reported as mean and interquartile range. Successful placement of Quicktrach baby™ was possible in all attempts. The placement took 31 [23-43] s. In two cases, a fracture of the cricoid's cartilage was seen. In one animal, damage to the posterior wall mucosa was observed. In all cases, sufficient ventilation was possible. Quicktrach™ baby proved to be a reliable technique. In the animal model, it is easy and fast to perform. Only a few minor complications occurred. Sufficient ventilation was possible in all attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Perturbation of differentiation of the crypt-villus axis of the human small intestine is associated with several intestinal disorders of clinical importance. At present, differentiation of small intestinal enterocytes in the crypt-villus axis is not well characterised. Subjects and methods: Expression profiling of microdissected enterocytes lining the upper part of crypts or the middle of villi was performed using the Affymetrix X3P arrays and several methods for confirmation. Results: A total of 978 differentially expressed sequences representing 778 unique UniGene IDs were found and categorised into four functional groups. In enterocytes lining the upper part of crypts, cell cycle promoting genes and transcription/translation related genes were predominantly expressed, whereas in enterocytes lining the middle of villi, high expression of cell cycle inhibiting genes, metabolism related genes, and vesicle/transport related genes was found. Conclusion: Two types of enterocytes were dissected at the molecular level, the non-absorptive enterocyte located in the upper part of crypts and the absorptive enterocyte found in the middle of villi. These data improve our knowledge about the physiology of the crypt-villus architecture in human small intestine and provide new insights into pathophysiological phenomena, such as villus atrophy, which is clinically important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-four patient with high neurologic risks (Mayo class IV) successfully underwent carotid artery stenting with combined major stroke and death rates of 4.5%. Late follow-up at a mean of 23 +/- 1.8 months showed 1 non-neurologic death, but no neurologic events or repeat stenting procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]