Targeted uptake of folic acid-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles loading glycoalkaloidic extract in vitro and in vivo assays.

Solanum lycocarpum fruits contain two major glycoalkaloids (GAs), solamargine (SM) and solasonine (SS). These compounds are reported as cytotoxic. However, they have poor water solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome these disadvantages and getting an efficient formulation the current study aimed to develop, characterize, and test the effectiveness of a nanotechnology-based strategy using poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) nanoparticles functionalized with folate as delivery system of glycoalkaloidic extract (AE) for bladder cancer therapy. The strategic of adding folic acid into nanoformulations can increase the selectivity of the compounds to the cancer cells reducing the side effects. Our results revealed the successful preparation of AE-loaded folate-targeted nanoparticles (NP-F-AE) with particle size around 177 nm, negative zeta potential, polydispersity index <0.20, and higher efficiency of encapsulation for both GAs present in the extract (>85 %). To investigate the cellular uptake, the fluorescent dye coumarin-6 was encapsulated into the nanoparticle (NP-F-C6). The cell studies showed high uptake of nanoparticles by breast (MDA-MB-231) and bladder (RT4) cancer cells, but not for normal keratinocytes cells (HaCaT) indicating the target uptake to cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was evaluated on RT4 2D culture model showing 2.16-fold lower IC50 than the free AE. Furthermore, the IC50 increased on the RT4 spheroids compared to 2D model. The nanoparticles penetrated homogeneously into the urotheliumof porcine bladder. These results showed that folate-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles are potential carriers for targeted glycoalkaloidic extract delivery to bladder cancer cells.

Attraction of Moths of Two Noctuidae Species to Field Traps Baited With a Mixture of two to three Homologous Acetates in Poland.

Field trials of a series of monounsaturated straight-chain acetates, including the (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (pheromone blend A) and (Z)-5-decenyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (pheromone blend B), attracted the following species from the title family: Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus) and Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermüller), respectively. Cutworms were monitored in the 2016-2017 season with the use of white Delta-type traps and different pheromone dispensers that contained above blends. The identified pheromone components at blend A elicited maximum trap captures when combined in a Z5-14:Ac/Z9-14:Ac-mixture ratio 100:16 at dose of 350 µg. The attractiveness of dispensers with pheromone blend B combined in a Z5-10:Ac/Z7-12:Ac/Z9-14:Ac-mixture ratio 1:1:1 at dose of 200 µg was the highest. Most kinds of the dispensers tested were similar or more active to the standard lures of the Csalomon company. Pheromone component of the A. exclamationis, (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate, was synthesized with a new, simple, and very efficient method in high summary yield and excellent isomeric purity.

Use of a pressure gauge to differentiate gastric from pulmonary placement of nasoenteral feeding tubes.

This study was conducted to determine the reliability and validity of using a pressure gauge to differentiate gastric from pulmonary placement of nasoenteral tubes in nonmechanically ventilated patients. It was anticipated that on inhalation, tubes properly placed in the gastric region would yield positive readings owing to positive gastric pressures. Conversely, tubes that were inadvertently placed in the pulmonary system should yield negative pressure readings owing to the negative pulmonary pressures that exist on inhalation. Forty-six subjects were enrolled in the study. Of those, 44 had positive gauge readings, and x-ray results showed that these nasoenteral tubes were in the gastric region. Two patients had negative gauge readings, and the x-rays for both of these subjects demonstrated that the nasoenteral tubes were in the pulmonary system. Thus, the findings were consistent with what was anticipated. Despite the small sample size, the results of this study indicate that this method of assessing nasoenteral tube placement may be a safe, reliable, and cost-effective method of differentiating gastric from pulmonary tube placement in this patient population.

Patient falls in the acute care setting: identifying risk factors.

A retrospective comparative chart audit was conducted to identify patient characteristics associated with falls in the acute care setting, to examine the extent to which the significant characteristics explained if falls occurred, and to test the ability of variables believed to be risk factors to predict falls. Patients aged 60 and older who fell during hospitalization (n = 331) were compared with a random sample of patients aged 60 and older who were hospitalized during the same time period but did not fall (n = 300). Two days of documentation were sampled: admission day and day preceding the fall for the fall group, and admission day and a random day of hospital stay for the no-fall group. Findings supported the idea that fall-prone patients can be identified and that significant differences between those who do and do not fall are evident at hospital admission. The findings also suggested an alteration in the constellation of characteristics nurses use to identify fall-prone patients. Of 11 variables representing standard risk factors, only 6 were significantly related to fall status; 5 entered the regression equation as significantly contributing to the 22% explained variance. When potential predictor variables were expanded to include additional patient characteristics, the explained variances for fall status were 31% from the admission day data and 34.5% from the fall/random day data.