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The Advantages and Versatility of Carrier-Free Nanodrug and Nanoparticle Systems for Cancer Therapy
Published in Loutfy H. Madkour, Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment, 2022
Anticancer drugs also often suffer from poor pharmacokinetic properties. First, anticancer agents face rapid blood clearance by the RES which removes foreign substances from the bloodstream. Once anticancer drugs are administered to the body, they exhibit extremely rapid renal clearance and therefore can barely reach cancer cells and have a rather short half-life [458,459]. For example, the half-life of 5-FU and PTX is only 16 min and 5.8 h, respectively [422,460,461]. In addition to these, anticancer drugs are known to create kidney and liver damage. The former arises from excretion of drugs from the body, and the latter results from the detoxification mechanism of liver [462]. All of these side effects limit the maximum tolerated dose and potentially result in early termination of treatment due to their life-threatening toxicities [462,463]. Some of these side effects can cause long-term damage, such as neutropenia, known to remain for years or even permanent in many cases [457]. Anticancer drugs also encounter the issue of MDR being developed by cancer cells, usually after an initial therapy via genetic or non-genetic mechanisms. Second treatment may still have some effect on a minority of patients, but there are few cases who respond to a third administration [457].
Health risk assessment of PM2.5 and PM2.5-bound trace elements in Pretoria, South Africa
Published in Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 2023
Chantelle Howlett-Downing, Johan Boman, Peter Molnár, Joyce Shirinde, Janine Wichmann
The health effects due to chronic exposure to Mn include cardiac and liver disfunction, permanent neurodegenerative disorder, decreased fertility, and increased fetal abnormalities.[30] Long-term excessive Cr(III) intake reduces fertility in women, and Zn causes sideroblastic anemia, hypochromic microcytic anemia, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, neutropenia, hypocupraemia, and hypoferremia.[31] Chronic ingestion of high doses of Cu leads to liver cirrhosis, neurological abnormalities, hemolytic anemia, and decline in memory and cognition; Cd affects the gastrointestinal, liver, heart, kidney, and reproductive system.[31] Skin contact with certain Cr(III) and Ni compounds can cause allergic reactions.[32]
Occupational CNS aspergillosis in an immunocompetent individual a diagnostic challange
Published in Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2018
Parul Punia, Nidhi Goel, Ishwar Singh, Uma Chaudhary
Aspergillus species is one of the most ubiquitous of the airborne saprophytic fungus and is frequently isolated from the laboratory. It's prime importance lies in immune-compromised patients where it can cause disease, ranging from primarily pulmonary infections to dissemination anywhere in the body. Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillus is a rare entity in immunocompetent patients of which only few cases have been reported. Infections of the CNS occurs via hematogenous routes with the primary focus usually being the lungs or sometimes through direct extension from the paranasal sinuses.1 Invasive aspergillosis (IA) occurs in patients with risk factors including prolonged neutropenia, neutrophil dysfunction, patient on cytotoxic drugs, steroid therapy, any hematological malignancy, AIDS or in patients with bone marrow transplantation.1 A recently documented risk factor for (IA) is the exposure to environmental aspergillus spores at construction sites.2 It has been seen that settled spores of aspergillus can survive in the environment for long periods. During activities of construction or demolition, the spores get dispersed in the environment and lead to contamination of the air. The inhalation of these spores can cause disease particularly in the immune-compromised people but is relatively rare in immune-competent individuals. We report here a case of primary CNS aspergillosis in an immunocompetent person working in an area with excessive ongoing construction who was timely diagnosed and successfully treated with broad spectrum antifungals, thus highlighting the importance of keeping this differential diagnosis in mind even in individuals with no immunodeficiency. It also highlights the need to take precautions while working at construction sites.
Variability in body temperature in healthy adults and in patients receiving chemotherapy: prospective observational cohort study
Published in Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, 2019
J. S. Frazer, G. E. Barnes, V. Woodcock, E. Flanagan, T. Littlewood, R. J. Stevens, S. Fleming, H. F. Ashdown
We collected details from each participant and also sought permission to view their medical records to corroborate information. We recorded demographic details including age and sex, and recorded the current cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy regimen, cycle duration, past medical history, and current medications. Patients were provided with a variable number of diaries based on their expected future number of cycles (one diary per cycle). The diaries were similar to those used by the healthy volunteers, with additional space to provide details of any hospital admissions during the recording period, as well as a separate section for recording details of the thermometer(s) used to measure temperature (including brand, model, location of purchase, duration of ownership, and site of temperature measurement). As guidance given to patients on temperature monitoring during chemotherapy treatment varies, we asked them not to change their existing or planned practice but simply to record their temperature in the diary when they were checking it routinely. Participants were explicitly told not to contact the research team in the event of being unwell but to seek medical advice as instructed by their supervising clinicians. Participants returned completed diaries (anonymised using participant-specific codes) to the study team in prepaid envelopes. Patients were contacted up to two times if no diaries were received by the study team. We checked medical records retrospectively for the period of temperature recording and any intervening periods to ensure there had been no admissions for neutropenic sepsis not recorded by the participants themselves. In addition to what was recorded in the diaries, we retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records for all those who returned diaries. We counted an admission as due to neutropenic sepsis when this was recorded as such in the patient booklet, or when 'neutropenic sepsis', 'febrile neutropenia', or similar were included as part of the diagnosis in the discharge letter or other patient notes.