Single‑walled and multi‑walled carbon nanotubes based drug delivery system: Cancer therapy: A review.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are advanced nano‑carrier for delivery of drugs especially anti‑cancer drugs. In the field of CNT‑based drug delivery system, both single‑walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi‑walled nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be used for targeting anticancer drugs in tissues and organs, where the high therapeutic effect is necessary. Benefits of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in drug delivery systems are; avoiding solvent usage and reducing the side effects. Therefore, the present review article described about achievement of SWCNTs and MWCNTs to deliver the anticancer drugs with different cancerous cell lines.

Current understanding on venous leg ulcer.

Venous leg ulcer (VLU) or stasis ulcer is a relatively common, chronic and recurring problem. Besides being costly to the health-care system, it significantly impairs the quality of life of the patients. Nearly 1% of adults and 3.6% of older patients are reported to suffer from this chronic condition. Chronic venous insufficiency is considered to be the predominant cause of VLU. The most recent theories associate the pathogenesis of venous ulcer with microcirculatory abnormalities and generation of an inflammatory response. The pharmacological treatment for VLU is based on the pathogenesis and often includes diosmin, pentoxifylline, diuretics as well as antibiotics and the non-pharmacological treatment like compression and skin grafting. VLU has a high rate of recurrence and requires self-care to avoid relapse. Treatment of VLU should always focus for complete treatment, and improve quality of life for patients along with minimum relapse. In recent years novel therapeutic approaches for venous ulcers have offered valuable tools for the management of patients with this disorder.

Challenges in management of phyllodes tumors of the breast: A retrospective analysis of 150 patients.

Introduction: Phyllodes tumors (PT) of the breast seem to get pre-operatively misdiagnosed as fibroadenomas resulting in inadequate resections and high local recurrence rates. Materials and Methods: Data of 150 patients with PT of the breast managed from January, 2003 to February, 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 17 (Pearson Chi-square test and analysis of variance test for analysis). Aim: The aim of this study is to compare clinico-pathological profile and recurrence rates in patients with benign (B), borderline malignant (BL) and malignant (M) PT. Results: In a total of 150 patients with PT (n = 77 B, n = 24 BL, n = 49 M), mean age was 36.92, 44.04 and 40.46 years respectively (P 0.015) and mean tumor size being 8.15 cm, 14.7 cm and 12.9 cm respectively (P 0.000). Pre-operatively cytology suggestive of PT in 24% patients with B PT and 63% in M PT; core tissue biopsy suggestive of PT in 85.4% patients with B PT and 100% in M PT. Recurrence seen in 34.7% out of which 32.7% were post-lumpectomy performed elsewhere. Majority of B PT had lumpectomy (49.3%)/wide local excision (WLE, 31.2%) compared with M PT where 55.1% had simple mastectomy (SM) due to large tumor size. Local recurrence was more in M PT (53%) compared with B PT (20%). We found recurrence rates in L (39.3%) compared with WLE (27.3%) and SM (33.9%) (P 0.049). Conclusions: Larger tumor size, incomplete resection and M/BL histology predicted higher recurrence in PT. Core biopsy is much more accurate than fine needle cytology in the diagnosis.

Elevated red cell volume in North Indian students.

In a survey for beta-thalassemia carrier status among students in the State of Punjab in India, a surprisingly large number were found to have an elevated red cell volume over 99 fl. The finding was predominantly but not exclusively in females. Similar student surveys from other states showed less macrocytosis. Follow-up tests in a group of affected students were carried out. Volunteers were asked to modify their diet then after six months they were provided with oral vitamin B12. The resulting changes are reported and the implications of the probable vitamin B12 and or folic acid deficiency are considered.

Leptospirosis occurring in two children after fresh water immersion

Leptospirosis is relatively uncommon in children. Two cases of severe leptospirosis occurred in teenaged boys who shared a common exposure via immersion in fresh water. While both patients had laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis, their symptoms differed in many respects.