Comparison of the radioprotective effects of the liposomal forms of five natural radioprotectants in alleviating the adverse effects of ionising irradiation on human lymphocytes and skin cells in radiotherapy.

This study aims to evaluate the radioprotective effects of liposomes encapsulating curcumin (Lip-CUR), silibinin (Lip-SIL), α-tocopherol (Lip-TOC), quercetin (Lip-QUE) and resveratrol (Lip-RES) in alleviating the adverse effects of ionising irradiation on human lymphoctyes and skin cells in radiotherapy. Liposomes encapsulating the above natural radioprotectants (Lip-NRPs) were prepared by the film hydration method combined with sonication. Their radioprotective effects for the cells against X-irradiation was evaluated using trypan-blue assay and γ-H2AX assay. All prepared Lip-NRPs had a mean diameter less than 240 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.32, and zeta potential more than -23 mV. Among them, the radioprotective effect of Lip-RES was lowest, while that of Lip-QUE was highest. Lip-SIL also exhibited a high radioprotective effect despite its low DPPH-radical scavenging activity (12.9%). The radioprotective effects of Lip-NRPs do not solely depend on the free radical scavenging activity of NRPs but also on their ability to activate cellular mechanisms.

In vivo comparison of wound healing and scar treatment effect between curcumin-oligochitosan nanoparticle complex and oligochitosan-coated curcumin-loaded-liposome.

This study aimed to compare the in vivo effectiveness between curcumin-oligochitosan nanoplexes (CUR-OCH nanoplexes) and oligochitosan-coated curcumin-encapsulated liposomes (OCH-Lip-CUR) with respect to wound healing and scar treatment. Firstly, CUR-OCH nanoplexes was prepared by drug-polysaccharide complexation method and OCH-Lip-CUR was prepared by a combining method of lipid-film hydration and sonication. Their in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo wound healing and scar treatment effectiveness were evaluated using 3T3 cells and mice Mus musculus var. Albino, respectively. The resutls indicated that both of them were in nanosize with a moderate PDI (less than 0.3), and exhibited negligible cytotoxicity at low CUR concentration (0.01 mg/mL). Moreover, their application onto wounds resulted in faster healing and higher scar treatment effectiveness than control samples. Interestingly, OCH-Lip-CUR exhibited higher in vivo effectiveness than CUR-OCH nanoplexes. However, based on their own advantages, both of them were good candidates for a commercial formulation for wound healing and scar treatment.

A descriptive study of TB cases finding practices in the three largest public general hospitals in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: A project was implemented in 2010 to improve TB notification and TB screening and diagnostic routines in large general hospitals. The aims of present study was to assess baseline TB screening and diagnostic practices in the three largest general hospitals in Vietnam. OBJECTIVES: To assess baseline TB screening and diagnostic practices in the three largest general hospitals in Vietnam. METHOD: The study had three elements: 1) Focus group discussions with hospital physicians; 2) review of hospital records and structured interviews of people who had a chest X-ray on any indication; and 3) record reviews and structured interviews of people newly diagnosed with TB. RESULTS: The most commonly reported diagnostic pathway for pulmonary TB was chest X-ray followed by sputum-smear microscopy. Among 599 individuals who had a chest X-ray performed, 391 (65.1%) had recorded any abnormality, significantly higher in males (73.8%) than in females (54.7%), (p < 0.001), and the proportion was increasing with age (p <0.001). Among those with abnormal chest X-ray, 245 (69.2%) were investigated with sputum smear microscopy, and 49 (20%) were diagnosed with TB, of which 33 (13.5%) were smear-positive.Of 103 consecutive TB cases enrolled in the study, 92 (90%) had chest X-ray as the initial test. Sixty-three (61.2%) fulfilled the TB suspect criteria based on respiratory symptoms (productive cough >2 weeks). CONCLUSION: Chest X-ray is the preferred first test for TB in the largest hospitals in Vietnam. Chest X-ray is a sensitive screening tool for TB, which should be followed by a confirmatory TB test. While the majority of those with chest X-ray abnormalities are investigated with smear-microscopy, the high sputum-smear positivity ratio among them suggests that sputum-smear microscopy is done mainly for persons with quite clear TB signs or symptoms. TB screening and use of confirmatory diagnostic tests on wider indications seem warranted.