Interaction of Hypericin Embedded in Liposomes with the ocular tissue of new Zealand rabbits for application in photodynamic therapy

The potent photodynamic properties of hypericin [HY] elicit a range of light-dependant virucidal and tumoricidal activities. This work highlights the interaction of liposomes loaded with HY with the aqueous humor and crystalline lens of the rabbits' eye in comparison with those treated with HY only. Six group of New Zealand rabbits of six rabbits each were used in this study. The rabbits received 30 micro l of HY or liposomes loaded with hypericin topically once a day for one week as an eye drop of HY concentration 1-9 micro M. The eyes of rabbits were exposed to He-Ne laser for 5 min after 30 min from administration of HY or liposomes loaded with HY for the studied groups. Total soluble protein, molecular weight distribution, electrophoretic mobility and refractive index for both aqueous humor and soluble lens crystallins were investigated for the studied samples. The obtained results showed an increase in the solubility of lens protein and aqueous humor, an increase in the molecular weights of beta and gamma proteins accompanied by fluctuations in he electrophoretic mobility and slight decrease in the refractive index at high concentration of HY. The changes were higher in the samples treated with HY more than those treated with liposomes loaded with HY. It is concluded from the obtained data that hypericin embedded in liposomes may be used as a hotosensitizer for photodynamic therapy at low fractionated doses with minimal side effects

outcome of treatment in patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated by hypofractionation radiotherapy in NEMROCK

This is a prospective non-randomized trial which included 62 patients suffering from glioblastoma multiforme [GBM] who attended Kasr El-Aini Center of Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine [NEMROCK] from January 1991 to December 1995. All patients were operated upon by biopsy or partial surgical excision and received hypofractionation radiation therapy through a wide field technique. They all received a dose of 500 Gy twice weekly for three successive weeks on the Telecobalt machine. The percentage of overall response was assessed in 50 evaluable patients after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months and was found to be 30, 24, 12 and 0 successively. No severe acute reactions or late toxicity was observed. The median survival was 13 months. Those patients with KPS [Karnofsky performance status] 80-70 had longer survival than those KPS [less than 70] but the difference was not statistically significant. Patients who were initially treated by partial excision had longer survival than those who had undergone biopsy, the results were not statistically significant