Crafting Immunological Response Using Particulate Vaccines.

To achieve optimal immunogenicity, particulates present a promising vehicle for antigen delivery and have the potential to skew immune response. Particulate vaccine offers several advantages including targeting of antigen to sentinel cells, protection from degradation, sustained release, and itself acts an adjuvant mimics viral structure. Adjuvant presence is vital in overcoming the poor immunogenicity of vaccines, e.g., subunit vaccines. Adjuvants have antigen dose sparing potential and provide danger signals to alert the immune system. Various particulate carriers received attention in the delivery of vaccine antigens such as virus-like particles, liposomes, immunostimulating complexes, and polymeric particles. This review also discussed the properties of particles such as size, shape, and rigidity affecting the immunological outcome. It further highlights the cellular uptake of the particulate vaccine, antigen processing, and its presentation by antigen-presenting cells. For mass vaccination, especially in countries lacking resources, effect of storage temperature condition on stability of vaccine is pivotal. The current COVID-19 pandemic is not showing any signs of abatement and role of nanocarriers are highly relevant in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic as an effective immunization strategy. Eradication of pandemic demands the rapid evaluation of multiple approaches that can provides successful vaccination platform, enabling scalability and global distribution.

Role of preoperative MR volumetry in patients with renal cell carcinoma for prediction of postoperative renal function after radical nephrectomy and nephron sparing surgery

ABSTRACT Purpose Preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are commonly used for radiological evaluation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) before radical nephrectomy or nephron sparing surgery(NSS). This study aimed to assess the role of MRI for predicting postoperative renal function by preoperative estimation of renal parenchymal volume and correlation with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Materials and Methods A prospective observational study was conducted from February 2015 to October 2016 at a tertiary care hospital in northern India. MR imaging was done on 3 Tesla MR scanner (Signa Hdxt General Electrics, Milwaukee, USA). MR volumetry was used to estimate the renal parenchymal volume. GFR was measured in all patients using Tc99m Diethyl-triamine-penta-acetic acid using Russell's algorithm. Such measurement was done preoperatively, and postoperatively 3 months after surgery. Results 30 patients with suspected RCC underwent NSS (n=10) and radical nephrectomy (n=20). Median tumour volume was 175.7cc (range: 4.8 to 631.8cc). The median volume of the residual parenchyma on the affected side was 84.25±41.97cc while that on the unaffected side was 112.25±26.35cc. There was good correlation among the unaffected kidney volume and postoperative GFR for the radical nephrectomy group (r=0.83) as well as unaffected kidney volume, total residual kidney volume and residual volume of affected kidney with postoperative GFR for the NSS group (r=0.71, r=0.73, r=0.79 respectively; P <0.05). Conclusion Preoperative residual parenchymal volume on MR renal volumetry correlates well with postoperative GFR in patients with RCC undergoing radical nephrectomy or NSS.

Role of preoperative MR volumetry in patients with renal cell carcinoma for prediction of postoperative renal function after radical nephrectomy and nephron sparing surgery.

PURPOSE: Preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are commonly used for radiological evaluation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) before radical nephrectomy or nephron sparing surgery(NSS). This study aimed to assess the role of MRI for predicting postoperative renal function by preoperative estimation of renal parenchymal volume and correlation with glomerular fi ltration rate (GFR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted from February 2015 to October 2016 at a tertiary care hospital in northern India. MR imaging was done on 3 Tesla MR scanner (Signa Hdxt General Electrics, Milwaukee, USA). MR volumetry was used to estimate the renal parenchymal volume. GFR was measured in all patients using Tc99m Diethyl-triamine-penta-acetic acid using Russell's algorithm. Such measurement was done preoperatively, and postoperatively 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: 30 patients with suspected RCC underwent NSS (n=10) and radical nephrectomy (n=20). Median tumour volume was 175.7cc (range: 4.8 to 631.8cc). The median volume of the residual parenchyma on the affected side was 84.25±41.97cc while that on the unaffected side was 112.25±26.35cc. There was good correlation among the unaffected kidney volume and postoperative GFR for the radical nephrectomy group (r=0.83) as well as unaffected kidney volume, total residual kidney volume and residual volume of affected kidney with postoperative GFR for the NSS group (r=0.71, r=0.73, r=0.79 respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative residual parenchymal volume on MR renal volumetry correlates well with postoperative GFR in patients with RCC undergoing radical nephrectomy or NSS.

Role of MRI in staging and surgical planning and its clinicopathological correlation in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Radiological evaluation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is used for non-invasive staging for better surgical planning. However, the correlation of radiological staging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with histopathological findings has not been done so far. The aim of this study is to assess the role of MRI in pre-operative staging of RCC in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy and nephron sparing surgery (NSS) and correlate it with histopathological findings. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This prospective observational study was conducted from February 2015 to October 2016 at a tertiary care hospital in northern India. METHODS: MR imaging was done on 3 Tesla MR scanner (Signa Hdxt General Electrics, Milwaukee, USA). Preoperative staging was based on 2010 TNM staging system. The preoperative parameters in MRI were tumor size, detection/breach of pseudocapsule, tumor extension into perirenal fat and detection of tumor venous thrombus. The staging on MRI was compared with surgical and pathological staging. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The agreement between these three staging methods was determined using the kappa statistics (0.0-0.2, poor; 0.2-0.4, fair; 0.4-0.6, moderate; 0.6-0.8, good; 0.8-1.0, excellent). RESULTS: 30 patients with suspected RCC underwent NSS (n = 10) and radical nephrectomy (n = 20). Mean tumor size was 9.66 ± 2.99 cm in the radical nephrectomy group and 4.06 ± 1.16 cm in the NSS group. There was perfect agreement between MRI, surgical and pathological staging for breach of pseudocapsule (κ =1.0, Percentage of Agreement = 100%, P < 0.05). In none of the patients, MRI missed extension beyond the Gerota's fascia or presence of venous thrombus. CONCLUSION: MRI staging of RCC is an accurate predictor of the surgical and pathological stage and has the potential to become a useful tool for preoperative identification of patients with RCC who can undergo NSS.