Search

Recent evidence has implicated microRNA-219 (miR-219) in regulation of gene contributed in glioblastoma (GBM) pathogenesis. This study aimed to prepare miR-219 in chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs), characterize and investigate their efficacy on human GBM cell line (U87 MG). NPs were prepared using ionic gelation method. The influence of process parameters on physicochemical characteristics of NPs was investigated. Apoptotic effect of miR-219 was examined on U87 MG cells. Formulated NPs showed particle size of 109 ± 2.18 nm, with poly dispersity index equal to 0.2 ± 0.05, and zeta potential of +20.5 ± 0.7 mV. Entrapment efficiency of miR-219 in loaded NP has reached 95%. The in vitro release study demonstrated sustained release pattern of miR-219 from CS-NPs. Gel retardation assay has confirmed the integrity of miR-219 after production process. The fabricated NPs reduced the survival of U87 MG cells to 78% after 24 h of post-transfection, and into 67.5% after 48 h. However, fibroblasts were not affected by the NPs, revealing their specificity for GBM cells. Given the tumour suppressing function of miR-219, and advantage of CS-NPs for gene delivery to the central nervous system, the presented NPs have a great potential for treatment of GBM.

A 26-year-old woman was diagnosed with and treated for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 2002. She was admitted 11 years later with nephrotic-range proteinuria and lupus nephritis and received two doses of rituximab after failing on steroids and mycophenolate mofetil. Four months later, she presented with fever and joint pain/swelling. Gram stains, joint aspirates, and blood culture all yielded negative results for bacteria. She was discharged after treatment for a possible flare of lupus, but two weeks later, she presented again with a cough and shortness of breath in addition to the flare symptoms. Synovial fluid Smears, and cultures yielded positive results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; similarly, sputum polymerase chain reaction test and culture confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose in SLE patients; it may present like or precipitate SLE flare. In this patient a presumed SLE flare turned out to be an aggressive miliary, disseminated tuberculosis.

Biologics, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, are increasingly used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The efficacy of these drugs has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, these studies are conducted in controlled environments, and the results may not necessarily reflect clinical outcomes in daily clinical practice. In Europe and other western countries, numerous biologics registries that enroll and monitor patients receiving biologics have been established. These registries follow patients irrespective of whether they continue with the initial biologic drug. Thus, real-life efficacy data from these registries can be used to assess the long-term safety of biologics through longitudinal studies. In Africa and Middle East (AFME), such registries currently exist only in Morocco and South Africa. In light of the increasing availability of biologics and scarcity of long-term safety data of these agents in the AFME population, there is a need to establish biologics registries in other countries across the region. This review discusses the value of biologics registries versus RCTs as well as safety and efficacy data from observational studies presented as lessons from well-established biologics registries. In addition, the rationale for establishing such registries in the AFME region is also presented.