In vitro stability of arsenic trioxide-liposome encapsulates for acute promyelocytic leukemia treatment.

In this work, we investigated the stability of arsenic trioxide (ATO) used in leukemia treatment, encapsulated with nanoliposome, with the aid of ultrasound treatment. Stability studies of As species were followed by liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS), allowing for the detection of the conversion of low amounts of As(III) to As(V) or the formation of other As species. The influence of storage temperature and time on ATO was evaluated. Low amounts of As(III) to As(V) conversions were observed when the As encapsulated with nanoliposome was incubated at 25 °C and 40 °C. However, As(III) was stable if the solution was maintained at 5 °C, even after 90 days. No formation of other As species was observed, indicating good stability of the encapsulated ATO. Next step of the work will focus on spray drying of ATO nanoliposomes-encapsuleted with the aim of long term stability of As.

Insertion Area in the Mandible Masticatory Muscles for use in Finite Element Analyses / Área de Inserción en la Mandíbula de los Músculos de Masticación para ser Utilizados en Análisis por Elementos Finitos

To validate the virtual finite element analysis (FEA) results, it is needed that the mathematical models take into account the insertion area. Thus, the aim of this study was to measure the insertion area of masticatory muscles in the mandible in human cadavers to be used in FEA. The insertion area of the masticatory mandible's muscles was measured on both sides of fifty human cadavers throughout digital photos and software. The insertion area of the masseter was 7.47(±0.41) cm2, the temporal (inner portion) was 3.05(±0.13) cm2, the temporal (outer portion) was 2.25(±0.28) cm2, the medial pterygoid was 2.2(±0.23) cm2, and the lateral pterygoid was 0.8(±0.05) cm2. In conclusion, there is enough data to be used for the finite element analysis.

Para validar los resultados virtuales de análisis por elementos finitos (FEA) es necesario que los modelos matemáticos consideren el área de inserción muscular. Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue medir el área de inserción en la mandíbula de los músculos de masticación en cadáveres humanos para ser utilizado en FEA. El área de inserción en la mandíbula de los músculos de masticación fue medida en ambos lados de cincuenta cadáveres humanos por medio de fotografías digitales y software. El área de inserción del músculo masetero fue 7,47(±0,41) cm2, la porción interna del músculo temporal fue de 3,05(±0,13) cm2 y su porción externa de 2,25(±0,28) cm2, para los músculos pterigoideo medial fue de 2,2(±0,23) cm2 y pterigoideo lateral 0,8(±0,05) cm2. En conclusión, los datos son suficientes para ser utilizados para análisis de elementos finitos.

Chemoembolisation combined with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary angiosarcoma of the liver.

Angiosarcoma of the liver is a rare disease; however, it ranks as the third most common primary liver malignancy. Diagnosis is difficult and prognosis is very poor. After the onset of clinical symptoms, the disease often progresses rapidly, decreasing the chances of curative treatment. We report the case of an 83-year-old male patient who presented with postprandial fullness. Upper abdominal ultrasound showed a hypervascular mass in segment 6 of the liver. The results of anatomopathological examination and immunohistochemistry were compatible with the diagnosis of primary angiosarcoma of the liver. Patient refused surgery (haepatectomy), and treatment was then initiated with transarterial chemoembolisation, followed by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The patient is currently cured based on clinical and radiological evidence. This case report is the first in the literature to describe the combined use of transarterial chemoembolisation with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary angiosarcoma of the liver.

Bite force, electromyography, and mandible mobility during the 6-month period after surgical treatment for isolated fractures of the zygomatico-orbital complex.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the behavior of masticatory muscles after fractures of the zygomatico-orbital complex (ZOC) and subsequent surgical treatment, by using analyses of bite force, electromyography (EMG), and mandible mobility during a 6-month period after surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Five patients with fractured ZOCs treated surgically by using an intraoral approach and fixation exclusively in the region of the zygomaticomaxillary buttress were evaluated. The control group included 12 other patients. During postoperative follow-up, bite force, mandible mobility, and EMG analysis of the masticatory muscles were evaluated. RESULTS: There was an increase in bite force with time, but a decline in EMG activity during the same period. In the mandible mobility analysis, only maximum mouth-opening values increased significantly after the surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The masticatory musculature, according to bite force and EMG, returned to its normal condition by the second month after surgery, and maximum mouth opening was observed after the first month.