Curcumin delivered through bovine serum albumin/polysaccharides multilayered microcapsules.

The aim of the paper is to obtain and characterize k-carrageenan-chitosan dual hydrogel multilayers shell BSA gel microcapsules, as a carrier for curcumin, and as a possible antitumoral agent in biological studies. We used the CaCO3 template to synthesize non-toxic CaCO3/BSA particles as microtemplates by coprecipitating a CaCl2 solution that contains dissolved BSA, with an equimolar Na2CO3 solution. The microcapsules shell is assembled through a layer-by-layer deposition technique of calcium cross-linked k-carrageenan hydrogel alternating with polyelectrolite complex hydrogel formed via electrostatic interactions between k-carrageenan and chitosan. After the removal of CaCO3 through Ca(2+) complexation with EDTA, and by a slightly treatment with HCl diluted solution, the BSA core is turned into a BSA gel through a thermal treatment. The BSA gel microcapsules were then loaded with curcumin, through a diffusion process from curcumin ethanolic solution. All the synthesized particles and microcapsules were stucturally characterized by: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, UV-Vis Spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The behavior of curcumin loaded microcapsules in media of different pH (SGF, SIF and PBS) was studied in order to reveal the kinetics and the release profile of curcumin. The in vitro evaluation of the antitumoral activity of encapsulated curcumin microcapsules on HeLa cell line and the primary culture of mesenchymal stem cells is the main reason of the microcapsules synthesis as BSA-based vehicle meant to enhance the biodisponibility of curcumin, whose anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are well known.

[Tumor-to-tumor metastasis in a renal carcinoma: A rare and surprising event]. / Métastase d'une tumeur primitive dans un carcinome rénal : un évènement rare et surprenant.

Tumor-to-tumor metastasis is a very rare event. We report three cases of tumor metastasizing in a clear cell renal cell carcinoma: two breast carcinomas and a sigmoid carcinoma. So we objectified a prevalence of 1.5% of renal tumors in our series. It's a rare situation but to be considered in daily practice because it changes oncological management offered to the patient. According to the literature, clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common tumor recipient of metastasis. Several physiopathological mechanisms can explain this phenomenon, but many of them are still unknown. A better understanding of this phenomenon makes it possible to improve the diagnosis and thus the management of patients with several cancers.

The pericardial effusion pattern on phase images.

UNLABELLED: The effect of pericardial effusion on phase images of gated studies was investigated. Twenty-six patients with suspected or known pericardial effusion were correlated with echocardiography and/or clinical and other laboratory data to ascertain the presence and size of effusion. The phase image pattern and parameters were compared to the results previously obtained in seven normal patients, and in 26 patients with documented regional wall motion abnormalities but no evidence of pericardial effusion. The phase pattern was graded into five categories: typical (IV) (wide histogram, well defined concentric convex pattern, progressive delay toward the inferolateral area, identifiable also over the right ventricle); less pronounced (III); atypical (II); ill defined changes (I); and normal (0). RESULTS: Group L (large pericardial effusion): four of six had pattern (IV) and the left ventricular histogram showed abnormal parameters. These patients had large free effusions in the pericardial sac and none had regional wall motion abnormalities. Two of six had pattern (III) and (II) but also had ancillary pericardial pathology and/or decreased ejection fraction. Group M (moderate pericardial effusion), S (small pericardial effusion), and A (absent pericardial effusion, but not normal) had variable phase images and numeric parameters. After therapeutic drainage of pericardial fluid two patients changed pattern from IV and III to 0 and a third from III to I. Category IV pattern is 100% specific for pericardial effusion; the combination of category IV or III is 87.5% specific and 61% sensitive for large and moderate pericardial effusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Detection and quantification of regional wall motion abnormalities using phase analysis of equilibrium gated cardiac studies.

Phase images obtained from equilibrium gated cardiac studies were evaluated for qualitative and quantitative information and correlated with contrast angiography in 33 patients. The left ventricular region of interest was obtained by a semiautomatic procedure which avoided underestimation of size but also eliminated extraventricular pixels. Phase images and phase distribution histograms were arranged in three standard displays which included the whole heart, isolated left ventricle, isolated abnormal areas, and quantification of maximum phase shift in the whole free border and in the inferolateral and posterolateral segments. Only the free left ventricular border was evaluated. According to contrast angiography results, four categories were obtained: normal, hypokinetic, akinetic, and dyskinetic. The best correlation with contrast angiography was found with the results obtained by dividing the left ventricular free border in two segments (r = 0.91). Scheffe's test for multiple comparisons showed significant differences between each of the four categories. Expressed in phase shifts from the histogram mode, the lower limits for the three abnormal categories were established at 30 degrees, 78 degrees, and 156 degrees respectively for hypokinetic, akinetic, and dyskinetic segments. For distinguishing normal from abnormal segments, sensitivity = 83%, specificity = 94%, and accuracy = 89%. The main reasons for discrepant results appeared to be small hypokinetic areas in an otherwise normal ventricle, very large area of hypokinesia, segments adjacent to an area of marked abnormality, and ventricles with asynchrony (wave-like motion). The method described provides an image which characterizes myocardial synchrony, generates clear boundaries for abnormal areas, and lends itself to quantification.

Incidence and consequences of breast artifacts in radionuclide cardiac studies.

A retrospective evaluation was done on 426 radionuclide cardiac studies performed on female patients at our institution from January through September, 1980. These procedures included pyrophosphate (PYP) myocardial scans, resting and exercise Tl-201 studies, and gated equilibrium studies. The purpose of this evaluation was to document the incidence and possible consequences of breast artifacts in various cardiac procedures. We found the incidence to range from 30 to 50% of the studies performed, and both the incidence and type of artifact encountered varied with the type of procedure performed. Furthermore, 13 to 35% of patients had artifacts directly overlying the myocardium. The possible consequences, including potential misdiagnosis, interference with computer derived quantitative parameters, and the technical maneuvers necessary to avoid or alleviate these problems are discussed.