Effect of water content on stratum corneum penetration mechanism of W/O type microemulsions.

The stratum corneum (SC) consists of a lipid layer that forms two types of lamellar structures: short lamellar (S-La) and long lamellar (L-La). It has been reported that S-La contains water phases in the hydrophilic region of the lipids, and that it may play an important role in regulating the water content of the SC. The amount of water in the SC can affect how a drug carrier permeates through the intercellular lipid pathway. To better understand the impact of SC water content on the skin penetration mechanism of a microemulsion (ME), we conducted a study using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Our results showed that MEs can enhance skin permeation under humid conditions because the lipid packing structures of the hydrated SC are more disrupted than those of the dry SC. The results also showed that the inner water of MEs was released to the SC when applying MEs to the dry SC, resulting in an increase in the repeat distance of S-La. Conversely, when MEs are applied to hydrated SC, the MEs absorb the water from the SC into their inner phases, causing a decrease in the repeat distance of S-La over time.

[Efforts toward Venous Access of Anti-Cancer Drug by Nurses].

Our hospital has an established outpatient chemotherapy room, and medical doctors have accessed veins for infusion so far. We trialed venous access by nurses for the purpose of managing safe and proper cancer chemotherapy, reducing the work of doctors, and reducing patient waiting time. A questionnaire was conducted in June 2013, and nurses secured routes at 19 facilities(58%)of the 33 national university hospitals. In November of the same year, the working group was established, and from September 2016 to March 2017, lectures, practical skills, a paper test, and a practical test were conducted; successful applicants were approved as in-hospital certified nurses. From April 2017, we started intravenous injection of anti-cancer drugs by nurses in outpatient chemotherapy rooms and always waiting for doctor in chemotherapy room. There have been many favorable reports of reduced pain and less route failure from patients, and issues, such as extravasation and dyspnea, have not occurred yet. The doctors who were interrupting their work by 29 minutes(20 minutes to and from the patient for a 9-minute procedure)could concentrate on their own tasks. However, patient waiting time increased from 14 minutes to 21 minutes because the amount of work for nurses increased. In the future, reducing the burden on nurses, for example, by increasing the number of nurses, is warranted.

Prognostic value of sinus CT scans in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

UNLABELLED: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) causes immunosuppression and predisposition to sinusitis. CT scans are complementary exams used in the diagnosis of sinusitis; however, its use in every patient is questionable. AIM: to check the usefulness of ordering a CT scan prior to HSCT and to study the relationship between anatomical variations and sinusitis. METHOD: prospective study in which we performed paranasal CT scans before and after HSCT, using the Lund and Mackay score. RESULTS: 77.5% and 61% of CT scans showed no evidence of sinus disease before and after HSCT. CT staging was not associated with sinusitis after HSCT. Anatomical variations were related to radiographic disease severity, but not to development of sinusitis after HSCT. There was no relation between pre-CT staging and sinusitis after BMT. CONCLUSION: CT scans are not useful for all patients before HSCT. Anatomical variation is not a predictive feature to sinusitis but it can determine its severity.

Valor prognóstico da tomografia computadorizada de seios paranasais no transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas / Prognostic value of sinus CT scans in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

O transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) causa imunossupressão e predispõe ao desenvolvimento de rinossinusites. A realização de tomografia computadorizada (TC) de seios paranasais pode auxiliar no diagnóstico de rinossinusopatias nestes pacientes, porém a realização em todos estes pacientes é questionável. OBJETIVO: Verificar a necessidade de realizar a TC nos candidatos ao TCTH e relacionar as alterações tomográficas encontradas a rinossinusopatias pós TCTH. MÉTODO: Estudo piloto prospectivo em que as TC de seios paranasais foi executado antes e após o TCTH e avaliado conforme classificação de Lund e Mackay. RESULTADOS: Foram obtidos 77,5 por cento e 61 por cento de TC normais no pré e pós-TCTH, respectivamente. O estádio tomográfico pré-TCTH não se relacionou à ocorrência de rinossinusite após o TCTH. As variações anatômicas encontradas (19,4 por cento) não se relacionaram com a ocorrência de rinossinusite, mas sim com a gravidade da rinossinusite no pós-TCTH. Não houve associação significativa entre estadiamento tomográfico prévio e desenvolvimento de rinossinusite pós-TCTH. CONCLUSÃO: Não há necessidade de realização de tomografia computadorizada de seios paranasais em todos os pacientes previamente ao TCTH; e a variação anatômica não predispõe à rinossinusite nem antes nem após o transplante de medula óssea, apenas pode agravar a evolução da rinossinusite após o TCTH.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) causes immunosuppression and predisposition to sinusitis. CT scans are complementary exams used in the diagnosis of sinusitis; however, its use in every patient is questionable. AIM: to check the usefulness of ordering a CT scan prior to HSCT and to study the relationship between anatomical variations and sinusitis. METHOD: prospective study in which we performed paranasal CT scans before and after HSCT, using the Lund and Mackay score. RESULTS: 77.5 percent and 61 percent of CT scans showed no evidence of sinus disease before and after HSCT. CT staging was not associated with sinusitis after HSCT. Anatomical variations were related to radiographic disease severity, but not to development of sinusitis after HSCT. There was no relation between pre-CT staging and sinusitis after BMT. CONCLUSION: CT scans are not useful for all patients before HSCT. Anatomical variation is not a predictive feature to sinusitis but it can determine its severity.