Search

A new approach for the synthesis of podophyllotoxin-naphthoquinone compounds using microwave-assisted three-component reactions is reported in this study. Novel podophyllotoxin-naphthoquinone derivatives with modification on ring E were synthesized. All the synthetic compounds were assessed in terms of their cytotoxicity profile against four cancer cell lines (KB, HepG2, A549, and MCF7), and noncancerous Hek-293 cell lines. Notably, treatment of SK-LU-1 cells with compounds 5a and 5b resulted in G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle, caspase-3/7 activation, and apoptosis. Additionally, molecular docking studies were performed and showed important interaction of two compounds against residues in the colchicine-binding-site of tubulin as well. Taken together, compounds 5a and 5b were identified as potent anticancer agents., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: Dengue infection represents a global health issue of growing importance. Dengue non-structural protein 1 (NS1) plays a central role in the early detection of the disease. The most common method for NS1 detection is testing by lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) with varying sensitivity. In this study, we present a highly sensitive magneto-enzyme LFIA for prompt diagnosis of dengue., Methods: We have demonstrated the development of a magneto-enzyme LFIA combining super-paramagnetic nanoparticles as labels and Biotin-Streptavidin signal amplification strategy to detect dengue NS1. Factors affecting the test performance including antibody pair, super-paramagnetic nanoparticle size, nitrocellulose membrane type, amounts of detection and capture antibodies, and amounts of Streptavidin-polyHRP were optimized. Analytical sensitivity and cross-reactivity were determined. Clinical performance of the novel assay was evaluated using a panel of 120 clinical sera., Results: This newly developed assay could detect NS1 of all four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV). The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be as low as 0.25 ng ml -1 for DENV-1 and DENV-3, 0.1 ng ml -1 for DENV-2, and 1.0 ng ml -1 for DENV-4. The LOD for DENV-2 was a 50-fold improvement over the best values previously reported. There was an absence of cross-reactivity with Zika NS1, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, and Japanese encephalitis virus. The sensitivity and specificity of the novel assay were 100% when tested on clinical samples., Conclusions: We have successfully developed a magneto-enzyme LFIA, allowing rapid and highly sensitive detection of dengue NS1, which is essential for proper management of patients infected with DENV., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2019 Tran et al.)

The efficacy of calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics in healing large bone defects is, in general, not as high as that of autologous bone grafting. Recently, we reported that CaP ceramics with osteoinductive properties were as efficient in healing an ilium defect of a sheep as autologous bone graft was, which makes this subclass of CaP ceramics a powerful alternative for bone regeneration. Although osteoinduction by CaP ceramics has been shown in several large animal models it is sporadically reported in mice. Because the lack of a robust mouse model has delayed understanding of the mechanism, we screened mice from 11 different inbred mouse strains for their responsiveness to subcutaneous implantation of osteoinductive tricalcium phosphate (TCP). In only two strains (FVB and 129S2) the ceramic induced bone formation, and in particularly, in FVB mice, bone was found in all the tested mice. We also demonstrated that other CaP ceramics induced bone formation at the same magnitude as that observed in other animal models. Furthermore, VEGF did not significantly increase TCP induced bone formation. The mouse model here described can accelerate research of osteoinductive mechanisms triggered by CaP ceramics and potentially the development of therapies for bone regeneration., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To show the botulinum toxin interest and limits in the elderly presenting a limbs spastic hypertonia and/or a dystonia, through a clinical study and a literature review., Method: We report a 6 years and 8 months retrospective single center study, concerning 49 patients, all of them was more than 70 years old and had received one or several botulinum toxin injections for a limbs spastic hypertonia and/or a dystonia., Results: The population average was 76,9 years old (70 to 92 years old). It was possible to realize several sessions for the same patient if respecting a three months interval between two sessions. No major side effects was noticed. More than half of the patients felt a significant improvement of their life quality, their functional status and/or on pain. A multidisciplinary care was systematically associated with the botulinum toxin., Conclusion: The botulinum toxin is an additional asset for the spasticity care of the geriatric patient in rehabilitation, if indications and contraindications are advisedly targeted. The age cannot be considered as a limitating factor.

Objective: To study and compare the sensitivities to change of the French versions of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) and the Dallas Pain Questionnaire (DPQ)., Method: A retrospective study of the medical records of 30 chronic low back pain (LBP) outpatients undergoing a 4-week functional training program in a physical medicine and rehabilitation unit. Physical data (a visual analogue pain scale, the Schöber index, Sorensen and Shirado tests and the finger-to-floor distance) and functional status (QBPDS and DPQ scores) were measured at D0 and D25. Sensitivity to change was assessed in terms of the standardized response mean (SRM) and the effect size (ES)., Results: With the exception of the DPQ's "social interest" domain, all QBPDS and DPQ scores improved significantly over the course of the rehabilitation programme. Sensitivity to change was high for the QBPDS (SRM=0.80; ES=0.62) but only moderate for the DPQ (SRM=0.59; ES=0.61)., Discussion-Conclusion: Our results show that the QBPDS was more sensitive to clinical change than the DPQ in a sample of chronic LBP sufferers. It would be interesting to assess this sensitivity in a population of acute LBP patients and to evaluate the long-term effects of a functional rehabilitation program on the DPQ's "social interest" domain., (2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Cancer patients are living longer with deficiencies and functional impairments requiring often typically a care in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR)., Objective: To examine the care of cancer patients in PMR., Method: Investigation made with a questionnaire diffused from the e-mail listing of the Société Française de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation., Results: Sixty-seven answers received. Fifty-seven centers take care of cancer patients. On average, 4% of cancer patients are hospitalised in PMR. Spinal cord injuries and hemiplegias are the most common impairments. Forty-two percent of the PMR units take the patients in all the stages of cancer treatment. Working relationships between PMR and oncology units are formalized only eight times out of 52. In case of health degradation, relationships with a palliative care unit are frequent but not generalized. Eighty-five percent of the centers think that PMR is not enough developed in oncology., Conclusions: In spite of its limited character, this investigation shows that the PMR units take these patients. Situations where PMR has an important role in the follow-up of cancer patients are multiple and publications have showed its interest, especially on the limitations of activities. It is important to make better known the interest of PMR in oncology units but also to develop specific care within PMR units.

Introduction: This paper is a review of the literature on assessment tools in lower limb amputees., Material and Methods: The authors have research on Medline(R) data base the different tools with keys words "lower limb amputee or amputation, functional evaluation or outcome assessment tools, activity of daily living", and have completed the research with the references of papers., Results: A comprehensive approach of the consequences of an amputation and of the outcome of prosthetic care should include an evaluation of gait, use of the prosthesis in activities of daily life, acceptability and satisfaction with the device., Discussion: Functional assessment tools that are validated are recent, and most of them were developed in English. They take into account the use and the acceptance of the device, but there is no study using them for an important sample population., Conclusion: It is now necessary to translate the recent tools into French, and to confirm their validity and sensitivity to change.