Journey of a Patient With Multiple Myeloma Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.

Multiple myeloma accounts for 10% of all hematologic malignancies. It has been drawn to the forefront of clinical interest because of recent advances in treatment regimens. Although there are multiple lines of available therapies and ongoing clinical trials, autologous stem cell transplantation remains the central option for prolonging durations of remission and improving overall survival. This case study demonstrates how oncology nurses play a critical role in patients' journeys before and after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in Head and Neck Surgery.

This chapter explores the role of advanced practice clinicians (APCs) and patient care coordinators in the head and neck cancer setting. APCs, which include physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), are licensed professional healthcare providers who diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical therapies. Although the training, education, and licensure differ between PAs and NPs, their roles are quite similar in head and neck surgery. They collaboratively participate in the medical and surgical management and coordination of head and neck cancer patients in a variety of settings including outpatient clinic, inpatient, and in the surgical suite. APCs can function autonomously in an outpatient clinic with the medical management of postoperative visits and new consults. In an inpatient setting, they perform daily inpatient rounds and manage patient care preoperatively and postoperatively. In head and neck surgery, registered nurses (RNs) usually function in the role of patient care coordinators. They serve as a liaison between the patient and all members of the multidisciplinary team. APCs and patient care coordinators work closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, and other allied health professionals to provide high-quality care and achieve optimal patient outcomes in the head and neck cancer setting.

Enhancement of T helper type 1 immune responses against hepatitis B virus core antigen by PLGA nanoparticle vaccine delivery.

Currently, there is a need for therapeutic vaccines that are effective in inducing robust T helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses capable of mediating viral clearance in chronic hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B therapeutic vaccines were designed and formulated by loading the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) into poly(D,L-lactic-acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with or without monophospholipid A (MPLA), a Th1-favoring immunomodulator. These particles were around 300 nm in diameter, spherical in shape and had approximately 50% HBcAg encapsulation efficiency. A single immunization with a vaccine formulation containing (MPLA+HBcAg) coformulated in PLGA nanoparticles induced a stronger Th1 cellular immune response with a predominant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) profile than those induced by HBcAg alone, free (HBcAg+MPLA) simple mixture or HBcAg-loaded nanoparticles in a murine model. More importantly, the level of HBcAg-specific IFN-gamma production could be increased further significantly by a booster immunization with the (HBcAg+MPLA)-loaded nanoparticles. In summary, these results demonstrated that codelivery of HBcAg and MPLA in PLGA nanoparticles promoted HBcAg-specific Th1 immune responses with IFN-gamma production. These findings suggest that appropriate design of the vaccine formulation and careful planning of the immunization schedule are important in the successful development of effective HBV therapeutic vaccines.