Nanotechnology applications in rheumatology.

Nanomedicine (NM) is the medical use of nanotechnology (NT). NT is the study and control of nanoscale structures (between approximately 1 and 100 nm). Nanomaterials are created by manipulating atoms and molecules at the nanoscale, resulting in novel physical and chemical properties. With its targeted tissue delivery capabilities, NT has enabled molecular modulation of the immune response and underlying inflammatory responses in individuals with rheumatic diseases (RD). NM has enabled targeted drug delivery, reduced adverse effects on non-target organs, raised drug concentration in synovial tissue, and slowed the progression of immune-mediated RD such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thus, NM has evolved in rheumatology prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. Animal models have proven superior outcomes to conventional techniques of treating specific illnesses. Nanodiamond (ND) immunomodulatory applications have been proposed as an alternative to traditional nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of RA due to their small size and ability to be removed from the body without causing harm to the patient's organs, such as the liver. However, human clinical NM needs more research. We conducted a literature review to assess the present role of NM in clinical rheumatology, describing its current and future applications in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Preoperative Computerized Tomographic Assessment of Regional Lymph Node and Extramural Vascular Invasion in Colonic Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: There have been recent attempts to transfer well-established principles of rectal cancer management to colonic cancer, thereby offering neoadjuvant chemotherapy to high-risk patients at least in the trial settings. Traditionally, postoperative chemotherapy is offered to patients with colonic tumors that metastasize into regional lymph nodes and have features of extramural vascular invasion (EMVI). If the same criteria are used for the selection of patients with colonic cancer for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then their accurate preoperative detection becomes of paramount importance. The aim of the study was to establish the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the computerized tomographic (CT) assessment of lymph node involvement and EMVI in colonic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 53 consecutive adult patients (35 males and 18 females; median age, 72 years) who had complete preoperative CT staging of colonic cancer followed by its surgical resection during a 12-month period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012. Patients with rectal and colonic tumors presenting as an emergency who did not have complete preoperative CT imaging were excluded. Preoperative CT findings on regional lymph node status and EMVI were compared with the final histopathological staging of resected specimens calculating sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the test. RESULTS: In predicting regional lymph node metastases, CT scan had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 24%. PPV was calculated as 63% and NPV as 50%. In predicting EMVI, it had a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 49%. PPV was 37% and NPV was 78%. CONCLUSION: Preoperative CT scan does not allow an accurate detection of regional lymph node metastases and EMVI and has a tendency to overstage colonic cancer.